An Updated Look at the College Football Bowl Games: Transfers and Coaching Moves (Dec. 27)
An Updated Look at the College Football Bowl Games: Transfers and Coaching Moves (Dec. 27)
The transfers keep leaving, injured players are opting out and coaching moves continue as of Tuesday, Dec. 27. 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.
(current line)
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, 5:30pmET)
North Carolina vs. West Virginia (WVU -6.5/55.5)
*UNC has been decimated leading off with QB Drake Maye declaring for the draft. Backup Conner Harrell, a redshirt freshman will get the start. Top WR Tez Walker, All-ACC LB Cedric Gray, starting CB Alijah Huzzie are out.
*West Virginia loses center Zach Frazier.
Holiday Bowl (San Diego, 8pmET)
USC vs. Louisville (Louisville -7/58.5)
*USC loses QB Caleb Williams to the draft. Freshman QB Malachi Nelson also entered the portal. WR Brenden Rice (45 for 791 yds, 12 TDs) and RB MarShawn Lloyd (820yds, 9 TDs) are opting out.
*Louisville loses RB Jawhar Jordan (1,128yds, 13 TDs) and WR Jamari Thrash (63 for 858 yds, 6 TDs) to the NFL.
Texas Bowl (Houston, 9pmET)
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State (OK State -2/54.5)
*Texas A&M will start QB Jaylen Henderson with QB Max Johnson in the portal. WR Evan Stewart (38 catches for 514 yds, 4 TDs) and TE Jake Johnson (27 for 235 yds, 4 TDs) are also in the portal. On defense, they lost CB Tyreek Chappell (21 tkl, 1 INT), CB Bryce Anderson (47 tckl, 1 INT, 1 FR), CB Deuce Harmon (18 tck, 7 PD), DL Walter Nolen (37 tkl, 4 sck, 1 pd) and EDGE Fadil Diggs (36tckl, 4 sck, 2 PD). WR Ainias Smith (53 rec. for 795 yds) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (83 tckl, 8 scks) have opted out. Jimbo Fisher was recently fired as head coach. DC Elijah Robinson will coach the bowl game.
*Ok State WR Jaden Bray (30 rec for 382 yds, 2 TDs) is in transfer portal.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Fenway Bowl (Boston, 11amET)
SMU vs. Boston College (SMU -10/47)
*SMU will go with r-freshman Kevin Jennings at QB as Preston Stone (28 TDs) is out due to injury. Jennings helped SMU win the AAC title game. BC has no major losses.
Pinstripe Bowl (Yankee Stadium, New York, 2:15pmET)
Rutgers vs. Miami-Fla. (Miami -1/40.5)
*Miami loses QB Tyler van Dyke (19 TD, 12 INTs) to Wisconsin. Emory Williams, who replaced TVD at QB, is out due to injury. Sophomore Jacurri Brown, who started twice last season, is expected to start. WR Colbie Young (47 catches for 563 yds, 5 TDs) and LB Corey Flagg Jr. (48 tkl) are in the portal. S James Williams (73 tkl, 1 INT) is option out along with S Kamren Kinchens (59tkl, 5 INT) and DT Leonard Taylor (20 tkl).
Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, 5:45pmET)
NC State vs. Kansas State (KState -2.5.47.5)
*Kansas State will be without QB Will Hoard, who is in the portal. Avery Johnson, who has nine TDs this season with six on the ground, will start. RB Treshaun Ward (643 yds, 5 TDs), CB Will Lee (42 tkl, 2 INT), EDGE Nate Matlack (4 sck), CB Will Lee (42 tkl, 6pd, 2 INT) and S Kobe Savage (57tkl, 3 INT) are in the portal. WR Phillip Brooks (53 for 589 yds, 5 TDs) and TE Ben Sinnott (49 for 676 yds, 6 TDs) are opting out.
*NC State QB MJ Morris (719 yds, 7 TDs, 5 INTs) will transfer to Maryland. DL CJ Clark (22tkl, 1 sack) is in the portal.
Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, 9:15pmET
Arizona vs. Oklahoma (Ariz -2.5/61)
*Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel is transferring to Oregon. Freshman Jackson Arnold will start. He’s 18 of 24 this season. RB Tawee Walker (496 ycs, 7TDs) and CB Key Lawrence (44 tkl, 3 pd, 2INT) are in the portal. OT Tyler Guyton has opted out along with C Andrew Raym. OC Jeff Lebby moved on to become head coach at Mississippi State.
*Arizona LT Jordan Morgan is opting out.
Friday, December 29
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, 12pmET)
Clemson vs. Kentucky (Clemson -4.5/46)
*Clemson loses WR Beaux Collins (38 for 510 yds, 3 TDs) and S Andrew Mukuba (32 tkl, 6pd) to the portal. LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (87tkl, 5.5 scks, 2 INT, 1 TD), CB Nate Wiggins (28 tckl, 6pd, 2 INT, 1 TD), DL Ruke Orohoro (25tkl, 5 sck, 1pd) are opting out.
*Kentucky loses EDGE Keaten Wade (36 tckls) to the portal.
Sun Bowl (El Paso, Tx., 2pmET)
Oregon State vs. Notre Dame (ND -6.5/41.5)
*Oregon State loses head coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. Starting QB D.J. Uiagalelei and backup Aidan Chiles moved to the transfer portal. That means Ben Gulbranson, who started in 2022, will start again. RB Damian Martinez (1,185 yds, 9 TDs) was arrested for a suspected DUI in November and hasn’t played since. TE Jack Veiling (8 TDs), LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (106tckles, 2 INTs), S Akili Arnold (62tklc, 6 pd) and K Atticus Sappington (13-14 FG) are also in the portal. WR Anthony Gould (44 for 718 yds, 2 TDs) has opted out.
*Notre Dame loses QB Sam Hartman (24 TDs), RB Audric Estime (1,341 yds, 18 TDs) and both starting offensive tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher to opt-outs. The top three WRs are in the transfer portal along with top TE Mitchell Evans and C Zeke Correll.
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, 3:30pmET)
Memphis vs. Iowa State (ISU -9.5/57.5)
*Memphis loses RG Davion Carter and LT Makylan Pounders to the portal.
*Iowa State loses RB Eli Sanders (477yds, 4 TDs) and RB Cartevious Norton (343yds, 3 TDs) to the portal.
Cotton Bowl (Dallas, 8pmET)
Missouri vs. Ohio State (Ohio State 1.5/49)
*Ohio State loses QB Kyle McCord (3,170 yds, 24 TDs, 6 INTs) and WR Julian Fleming (26 rec for 270 yds). Missouri has no major losses.
*Starting CB Ennis Rakestraw and LB Ty’Ron Hopper will miss the game due to injuries.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Peach Bowl (Atlanta, 11amET)
Penn State vs. Ole Miss
*Ole Miss DE Cedric Johnson (40tkl, 5.5 sacks, 3 PD) opted out
*Penn State TE Theo Johnson (32 rec for 325yds, 6 TDs), LT Olu Fashanu and EDGE Chop Robinson (4 skc) are opting out. DC Manny Diaz moved on to be head coach at Duke.
Music City Bowl (Nashville, 2pmET)
Auburn vs. Maryland (Auburn -7/48.5)
*Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (3,377yds, 25 TD) has opted out. Sophomore Billy Edwards Jr. (wildcat QB) and freshman Cameron Edge are expected to see time at QB. The Terps also lost TE Corey Dyches (49 rec for 491 yds, 2 TDs) and LB Jaishawn Baldwin (3 sck, 1 INT). CB Tarheeb Still (45tkl, 2pd, 5 INT) also opted out.
Orange Bowl (Miami, 3pmET)
Florida State vs. Georgia (Georgia -16/44.5)
*Georgia LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (34tkl, 3.5sk, 2pd) is opting out. WR/PR Mekhi Mews (750+ all-purpose yards). All-American TE Brock Bowers’ status is uncertain along with OT Amarius Mims. Bowers has 56 catches for 714 yards and six TDs. Both are considered to be high NFL Draft picks and could opt out.
*Florida State QB Tate Rodemaker (510yds, 5 TDs, 0 INTs) and OT Bless Harris are in the portal. QB Jordan Travis (knee) is out for the year. Third-stringer Brock Glenn will start. RB Trey Benson (905yds, 14 TDs), WR Keon Coleman (50 rec for 658yds, 11 TDs), WR Johnny Wilson (41 for 617 yds, 2 TDs), TE Jaheim Bell (39 for 503 yds, 2 TDs), EDG Jared Verse (41tck, 9 sk) and DL Fabien Lovett (22tkl, 1sck) are opting out.
Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Ariz., 4:30pmET)
Toledo vs. Wyoming (Wyoming -3.5/44.5)
*Toledo QB Dequann Finn (29TDs) is transferring to Baylor.
*Wyoming CB Kolbey Taylor (29tkl, 7pd) is in the portal. Head coach Craig Bohl is retiring after this game.
Monday, Jan. 1st
ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, 12pmET)
Wisconsin vs. LSU (LSU -10/55.5)
*LSU will miss QB Jayden Daniels (40 TDs, 4 INTs, 1,134 rushing yds, 10 TDs), the Heisman Trophy winner, who is opting out.
*Wisconsin will miss RB Braelon Allen (984 yds, 12 TDs) who is opting out. C Tanor Bortoloni and CB Jason Maitre (33 tkl, 1 INT) are opting out. WR Chimke Dike (19 rec for 328 yds), WR Skyle Bell (38 rec for 296 yds), OLB Trey Wedig and LB Jordan Turner (61 tkl, 3scks) are in the transfer portal.
Citrus Bowl (Orlando, 1pmET)
Iowa vs. Tennessee (Tenn -6.5/36)
*Iowa loses WR Diante Vines (12 rec for 134 yards, 1 TD) in the transfer portal.
*Tennessee loses QB Joe Milton (2,813yds, 20 TDs) has opted out. Five-star Freshman Nico Iamaleava will start. He has 163 yards passing and 44 rushing yards this season. DE Tyler Baron (28 tkl, 6 scks), DB Wesley Walker (53tkl) and S Tamarion McDonald (40tckl,1 sck,1 INT) are the portal. RB Jaylen Wright (1,013 yds, 4 TDs) is opting out.
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Az., 1pmET)
Liberty vs. Oregon (Oregon -16.5/67)
*Liberty loses starting CB Preston Hodge to the portal.
*Oregon loses RB Bucky Irving (1,063 yds, 10 TDs, 53 rec. for 395 yds) to an opt-out along with C Jackson Powers-Johnson. QB Bo Nix is expected to play, but check status later in the week.
CFP Playoffs
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA, 5pmET)
Alabama vs. Michigan (Mich -1.5/44.5)
*No significant players are out
Sugar Bowl (Superdome, New Orleans, 8:45pmET)
Texas vs. Washington (Texas -4/63.5)
*No significant players are out.
