An Updated Look at the 2023-24 College Football Bowls: Transfers and Coaching Moves
An Updated Look at the College Football Bowl Games: Transfers and Coaching Moves
The transfers keep leaving, injured players are opting out and coaching moves continue as of Thursday, Dec. 7. It doesn’t make handicapping any easier, but it helps when you know who is playing, who is coaching, who is opting out, who is too injured to play and who is transferring out.
Saturday, Dec. 16
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Georgia Southern vs. Ohio University (Line: GS -3.5/48.5)
Notes: This line moved from Ohio -2.5 to Geo Southern -3.5. The Eagles top rusher Jalen White (891 yards) missed the last game and is ? for this one.
Ohio: Will be missing starting QB Kurtis Rourke, WR Miles Cross, RB Sieh Bangura an backup EB O’Shaan Allison to the transfer portal.
New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State vs. UL Lafayette (Line: JSU -3.5/57.5)
Notes: K Alen Karajic, who has made 14 of 20 field goals for the Gamecocks (JSU) is in the portal. Louisiana has some concerns at quarterback and starting linebacker. LB Kendre’ Gant is in the portal. Chandler Fields is basically the only healthy QB left and has played well the last three games, throwing 7 TDs and just one pick.
Cure Bowl
Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State (Line: APP -6.5/46.5)
Notes: MIO QB Aveon Smith is in the portal as is K Grahan Nicholson. Miami had already lost Blaine Gabbert (leg) for the year in late October. They are the only two QBs who have thrown a pass this season. Third-string Henry Hesson is expected to get the start. App State losses WR Dashaun Davis and RB Nate Noel (834 yds).
New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico State vs. Fresno State (Line: NMSU -3.5/51.5)
Notes: NMSU QB Diego Pavia was injured in the Conference USA title game and is expected to play here. WR Trent Hudson (35 catches, 10 TDs) is in the transfer portal.
Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford will not coach this game due to health issues. Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Tim Skipper will serve as interim coach.
Fresno State has a few players in the transfer portal but most are backups on defense.
L.A. Bowl
Boise State vs. UCLA (Line: UCLA -2.5/49.5)
Notes: Boise State coach Andy Avalos was fired on Nov. 12 when the Broncos were 5-5 and Spencer Daniels took over as the interim coach. Now, he’s expected to take over on a full-time basis. QB Taylen Green, who led the Broncos to the MWC title game win over UNLV, is now in the transfer portal. He started because freshman Maddux Madsen was out with a season-ending injury.
UCLA: QB Dante Moore threw for 1,610 yards with 11 TDs and nine picks as a freshman and is now in the portal along with several backups and rotation players. DC D’Anton Lynn left to become the USC DC. QB coach Ryan Gunderson moved to Oregon State to become new OC.
Independence Bowl
California vs. Texas Tech (Line: TT -2.5/58.5)
Notes: Cal QB Ben Finley is in the transfer portal, but was not starting late in the year. QB Fernando Mendoza, who has thrown for 1,447 yards with 13 TDS and seven picks, is the starter. CB Jeremiah Earby and LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (leading tackler) are in the portal.
Texas Tech: QB Tyler Shough came from Oregon so he’s searching for his third school. He played 15 games in three seasons due to injuries but did have 36 TDs and 17 INTs. He was not starting at the end of the year. Starting LT Monroe Mills is in the portal. The No. 2 and 3 receivers Myles Price and Jarand Bradley are both in portal. DT Jaylon Hutchings is in the portal.
Monday, Dec. 18
Toastery Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. ODU (Line:ODU -2.5/56.5)
Notes: WKY All-CUSA G Quantavious Leslie and starters C Vincet Murphy, RT Wes Dorsey and CB Upton Stout are in the portal.
ODU: WR Javon Harvey and starting S Terry Jones (107 tckls) are in the portal.
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Frisco Bowl
UTSA vs. Marshall (Line: UTSA -9/54.5)
Notes: UTSA: EDGE Trey Moore, who was AAC Defensive Player of the Year, is in the portal.
Marshall: Seth Doege, Purdue TE coach, was named OC. Starting QB Cam Fancher left for the transfer portal. Cole Pennington 437yds, 0 TDs, 6 INTs) takes over as the starter.
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boca Raton Bowl
USF vs. Syracuse
Notes: USF QB Gerry Bohanon is in portal but didn’t play this season.
Syracuse head coach Dino Babers was fired and Nunzio Campanile will serve as interim coach.Elijah Robinson was hired as defensive coordinator. Fran Brown, Georgia defensive backs coach, will take over as head coach but won’t coach the bowl game.
*Will get to the rest of the bowl games in the next update:
Air Force: RB John Lee Eldridge has entered the portal. He has 1,308 yards and 11 TDs over his career.
Alabama: WR Ja’Corey Brooks has entered the portal. He struggled with injuries this season, but had 39 catches for 674 yards and 8 TDs in 2022.
Bowling Green: CB Jalen Huskey (first-team All-MAC) is in the portal. RB Ta’ron Keith entered the portal. This season he had 44 catches for 457 yards and 390 rushing yards.
Clemson: WR Beaux Collins is entering transfer portal. CB Nate Wiggins and LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will opt out of the bowl game.
Coastal Carolina: QB Grayson McCall is leaving for the portal. He struggled this season, throwing for 1,919 yards, 10 TDs and 6 INTs. Last year, he threw for 24 TDS and just 2 picks in 11 games.
Duke: QB Riley Leonard (is injured) is in the transfer portal. Head coach Mike Elko left to take the Texas A&M job. RB Jordan Waters entered the portal. He has 753 rushing yards and 12 TD in 2023. RB Jaquez Moore also entered the portal. He has 1,109 rushing yards and 11 TDs in the past 2 seasons.
Florida State: WR Johnny Wilson is entering the NFL Draft and will skip the bowl game. The 6-7 Wilson has 41 catches for 617 yards with two TDs this season.
James Madison: Coach Curt Cignetti, after leading his team to 10 straight wins in their second year in FBS and to a bowl game, took the Indiana job. At press time, the Dukes are in search of a new head coach.
Kansas State: QB Wil Howard is in the transfer portal. Freshman QB Avery Johnson split time with him this season.
Kentucky: RB Ray Davis is opting out. Starting EDGE Keaten Wade is in transfer portal.
Miami-Fla: QB Tyler Van Dyke (19 TDs, 12 INTs) is in the transfer portal.
Mississippi State: QB Will Rogers is in the transfer portal. New head coach Jeff Lebby, the former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, is set to take over for Zach Arnett, who was there for one year. Arnett took over for Mike Leach, who passed away last season.
Notre Dame: WR Rico Flores and starting C Zeke Correll are in the transfer portal.
Ohio State: QB Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal. He threw for 3,170 yards with 24 TDs and six INTs last season.
Oklahoma: QB Dillon Gabriel has entered the transfer portal. Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards and 30 TDS in 2023 with 12 rushing TDs. DB Key Lawrence in the transfer portal.
Oregon State: Starting QB D.J. Uiagalelei is in the transfer portal. Ben Gulbranson is expected to start. Head coach Jonathan Smith moved on to Michigan State. Trent Bray, the defensive coordinator at Oregon State, takes over as the head coach. Kefense Hynson is the interim coach and is expected to run the offense and will coach the bowl game against Notre Dame.TE Jack Velling has entered the portal. He has 29 catches for 438 yards with 8 TDs in 2023. Starting LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (leading tackler), CB Jermond McCoy (2 INTs) and starting S Akili Arnold are also in the portal.
Texas A&M: Former Duke coach Mike Elko takes over the program as Jimbo Fisher was fired weeks ago. Most likely an interim coach will coach the bowl game. WR Ainias Smith (finger) will miss their bowl game due to injury. He caught 53 passes for 795 yards with two TDs this season. QB Max Johnson, who played eight games before getting hurt, is leaving as a grad transfer to North Carolina. The former LSU QB will be eligible immediately.
Tulane: Head coach Willie Fritz has left to take over for Dana Holgerson at Houston.
USC: QB Caleb Williams is out of their bowl game.
Utah: Bryson Barnes is in the portal, but intends to play in the bowl game on Dec. 23. Nate Johnson (235 rushing yds, 499 passing yards with 12 TDs and 9 INTs) will also leave for the portal.
Washington State: QB Cam Ward (3,732 yds, 25 TDs, 7 INTs) is expected to head to the draft, but could move to Oregon State, if that doesn’t work out.
