Injuries have always been a problem in CFB affecting bowl participation. Then, around 5-10 years ago (?), top prospects started buying draft insurance. In 2022-23, even marginal prospects are just sitting out the entire bowl season. And now, we've added a transfer portal which allows kids to be practicing with a new squad within a few months, AND NIL to inspire even more in-season movement. Keeping in mind that most of these players have feasted on scholarship money and/or NIL cash, take a look at these lists of key players and coaches who are AWOL for bowl season for one of the above reasons:

• Tennessee/Clemson: UT missing QB1 to injury, missing WR1 and WR2 to the draft. Clemson missed QB1 to injury and lost a bunch of players to the portal
• Iowa/Kentucky: Iowa missing QB1 to injury, QB2 to portal, and had to play QB3 who had never taken a college snap. Kentucky missing QB1 and RB1 and a CB to the draft, as well as the OC
• Texas/UW: Texas missed RB1 and I think RB2 to the draft
• Oklahoma/FSU: half of Oklahoma's DL/OL declared
• Oregon/NC: both teams' OCs were gone, and both teams missing a bunch of players to portal and draft
• WSU/Fresno: half of our team left plus our DC; Fresno missed a DB to the draft

Read through this list. In at least half of cases, the top ~2 players on every team skipped bowl season for draft or portal, including on teams playing in consequential bowl games. Others were lost to the normal stuff like injuries. I'm stunned at the number of coordinators and HCs who announced they were leaving their programs and aren't even coaching through the bowl games.

Is this even fun anymore?

Apologies again if this was already discussed and I missed it. I think a few weeks back, someone noticed Dishon Jackson had posted a countdown. Not much specific information around what it meant, but a sign of sorts.

I pretty much missed both games this week but haven't noticed anyone post that Jackson was on the bench for the SC game. I would love to see him back, but it's great to simply see he is heading in a good direction simply in terms of everyday life regardless of whether he plays again.

Anyway, he shows up 59 seconds into the video below and moving forward.

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LMAO. Sc goes down to Tulane in a major meltdown. Too damn funny!!

Watching a young man collapse and know that he is currently fighting for his life highlights how much wasted energy we put into attacking other people on this board. We all need to be better.

Losing your offensive coordinator and having kids opting out impacts even the best offenses.

I've always liked bowl season, but it's clear now that an expanded playoff is the future of college football. 36 teams with each conference getting a minimum of 2 bids would help minimize the super conference and NIL stuff.

Time to get it done.

Come one, come all, and share your pithy observations, wit, and analysis of the games today. Also cool to just talk about what you're doing for NYE or any stories you have about prior adventures.

I'll start with the Sugar Bowl: Kansas State came out fighting, but it was hard to see Saban, with all we saw this year, allowing anything other than an impressive performance today. Hate watching it but not surprising.

Anyone think TCU or Ohio State can win tonight? Decent amount of late money coming in on Ohio State.

very cool

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Too early? Don't want to jinx the mojo.

First, I really like Coach Smith. I want him to succeed at WSU.

Second, I think he needs some major work on his late close game coaching. Instead of showing angst and worry in a tight game with time running out (I've observed this many times), he needs to show CONFIDENCE in his players, CALMNESS, and also have a good plan to finish the game with a good outcome. The players need to SEE THIS and BELIEVE it. You can have all the data and statistics in the world ("nerdball") but if you don't have the confidence in your players, and show the calmness you need to show, the outcome is likely not going to be good.

I'm not just referring to this loss to UCLA. It is now a trend over many games.

Coach Smith needs to change his demeanor. He can do it.

Anyway, my 2 cents. Thoughts?

Cougs lookin good at the half.

…

Offensive lineman Christy Nkanu from Southern Utah signed on. Looks to be a grad transfer. Held a lot of offers; Syracuse, BYU, Cal, Cincinnati, Virginia. Definitely a position of need.

Doubt they pull it off, but here's hoping. https://www.espn.com/college-footba...u-honor-mike-leach-pirate-flag-helmet-sticker

8 pm on PAC 12 network
Bruins favored by 8 and the hook

Apparently, family issue has her going back home to New Zealand.

Keeps making some schools who are already strong with recruiting better just with the name. while some schools like Arizona uses money to buy players. I saw they got a commitment from Justin Flowe former Oregon LB 5* how much did it cost them. We must be recruiting the bargain basement/blue light specials. Just follow the NCAA transfer portal on Twitter.

Ben Arbuckle is the OC at Western Kentucky. Runs a modified Air Raid. Western Kentucky led NCAA in passing. Super young guy. Did a great job in bowl game. Roots are from Texas.

We were/are better than Texas

Update from KIRO

if you can't open it google it, good news! To a very sad situation.

I tend to think if they can fire on all cylinders, they will beat Texas by like 10.

Mack Brown, coaching NC tonight in the Holiday Bowl, was coaching #5 Texas when Coach Doba and the Cougars beat them 28-20 in the 2003 Holiday Bowl. Good times!

Maybe 4?

Is that too optimistic?

Good to see 5 OL in the class, most of whom are the usual developmental folks. I hope Mr. Pole can jump right in. The rest will need a redshirt year to acclimate and build themselves. And we may yet see another via the portal, so we may not be done yet. This is the sort of OL commitment we need every year. If our goal is a 60/40 pass/run ratio, we have to have a line that can support that. We can't get there with 3 (or even 4) OL signees per year, based on past experience....