College football bowl game opt-out tracker 2022: Jalin Hyatt, Anthony Richardson out

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker is here to take stock of who is in and who is out of every CFB postseason game for the 2022-23 slate. 

In the modern era of college football, things have changed in a big way thanks to the transfer portal, the preservation of NFL Draft stock and much more. And the college football bowl game opt-out has simply become far more commonplace because of that.

Whether it’s because a player is not committed to the program anymore or doesn’t want to risk injury in a game that, frankly, doesn’t have too many stakes outside of pride in their school and team, these players are making business decisions that simply make more sense than they used to now that we’ve entered the NIL era.

So for the 2022-23 college football bowl season, we’ve already seen big-name players like Tennessee WRs Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman opt out of the Orange Bowl in addition to Florida QB Anthony Richardson and Kentucky QB Will Levis opt out of their respective bowl games. And the same is expected from Texas RB Bijan Robinson and many, many more.

For people who are betting or picking these bowl games, this is information you need to know. We have you covered there with our college football bowl game opt-out tracker that goes through the players who are likely out in every game.

College football bowl game opt-out tracker for every 2022-23 CFB postseason game

Bahamas Bowl Opt-Outs – UAB vs. Miami OH (Friday, Dec. 16)

UAB does not have any significant opt-outs for the Bahamas Bowl as receiver Iverson Hooks is the only player to enter the transfer portal but he played an extremely limited role this season. The bigger issue for the Blazers will be the potential impact of the head coaching change as interim Bryant Vincent was not retained in favor of Trent Dilfer. Star running back DeWayne McBride was ruled out the morning of the Bahamas Bowl.

Miami OH has more question marks as starting offensive guard Caleb Shaffer has entered the portal along with starting corner John Saunders. Both could be impactful. The biggest question is QB Brett Gabbert, who missed much of the year with injury, but also entered the portal before about-facing and electing to return to the RedHawks. His status for the Bahamas Bowl is up in the air. The team will also be without WR Devon Dorsey, WR Jeremiah Batiste and OT Ryan O’Hair, but none of those are expected to have a significant impact.

Cure Bowl – UTSA vs. Troy (Friday, Dec. 16)

UTSA only has two true opt-outs with RB Tye Edwards and CB Ronald Gurley entering the portal, but neither were impact players for the Roadrunners. They are, however, without RB Brenden Brady (699 yards on the season), WR De’Corian Clark, RB Trelon Smith, TE Gavin Sharp and S Rashad Wisdom due to injuries, though all but Brady have been injured since early November or earlier.

Troy has not seen any of its players enter the transfer portal or opt-out outright, which is obviously positive for the Trojans. The big three questions are WR Marcus Rogers, DT Luis Medina and LB Jayden McDonald. The first two have injuries that have limited them leading up to the Cure Bowl and make their status in question. McDonald, meanwhile, has been absent from the team with no word as to why.

Fenway Bowl – Cincinnati vs. Louisville (Saturday, Dec. 17)

Cincinnati will not have new Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell on the sidelines and the change has also led to a number of opt-outs and transfers for this game. QB Ben Bryant and DT Malik Vann are also out due to injuries. Here’s a full list of the opt-outs for the Bearcats in this game:

• QB Luther Richardson (transfer)
• WR Nick Mardner (transfer)
• WR Jadon Thompson (transfer)
• WR Tre Tucker (opt-out)
• WR Tyler Scott (opt-out)
• TE Josh Whyle (opt-out)
• TE Leonard Taylor (opt-out)
• OL Jake Renfro (transfer)
• DE Noah Potter (transfer)
• DB Ja’Quan Sheppard (transfer)
• CB JQ Hardaway (transfer)
• K Ryan Coe (transfer)

Louisville is also in the midst of a head coaching transition as Scott Satterfield left the Cardinals for, ironically, Cincinnati. Satterfield will not coach either team in the game but his departure has led to a number of opt-outs and transfers. Here’s who will be out due to transfers and opt-outs for Louisville in the Fenway Bowl:

• QB Malik Cunningham (opt-out)
• RB Trevion Cooley (transfer)
• RB Jalen Mitchell (transfer)
• RB Tiyon Evans (opt-out)
• WR Tyler Hudson (opt-out)
• OL Luke Kandra (transfer)
• LB Dorian Jones (transfer)
• LB K.J. Cloyd (transfer)
• DB Rance Conner (transfer)

New Mexico Bowl – SMU vs. BYU (Saturday, Dec. 17)

SMU doesn’t have a long list of players missing for the New Mexico Bowl but it will be without receiver Rashee Rice, who led the team in most receiving categories this season, as he’s injured and opted-out to prepare for the draft. RB TJ McDaniel, a relatively unimportant rotational piece for the offense, is also out after entering the transfer portal.

BYU’s big news is on the injury front with QB Jaren Hall, WR Keanu Hill, LB Payton Wilgar and LB Max Tooley out for the game. The Cougars also will not have QB Jacob Conover, OL Campbell Barrington and LB Keenan Pili as they have all entered the transfer portal.

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl – Fresno State vs. Washington State (Saturday, Dec. 17)

Fresno State doesn’t have much to speak of for players missing this game. The only player of note is defensive back Cole Sanders but he honestly performed pretty poorly for the Bulldogs this season, so it shouldn’t be a huge blow.

Washington State is much more affected by opt-outs, mostly by way of the transfer portal in addition to other options. The biggest blow is to the passing game as three of the team’s top-four pass-catchers — WR De’Zhuan Stribling (transfer), WR Donovan Ollie (transfer) and WR Renard Bell (injury) — will be out. The team also saw LB Francisco Mauigoa and LB Travion Brown hit the portal while LB Daiyan Henley opted out. Offensive tackle Jack Wilson also left the team in order to join the Cougars’ basketball program for the season.

LendingTree Bowl – Southern Miss vs. Rice (Saturday, Dec. 17)

Southern Miss is a rare case as they are expected to be at full strength for the LendingTree Bowl.

Rice doesn’t have any opt-outs or players who have entered the portal but injuries are going to be a factor for the Owls. QB Wiley Green and QB T.J. McMahon, the top two options, are out with injuries. So too is the team’s leading receiver, Luke McCaffrey, though there is still a chance he could suit up, even if it’s unlikely as he missed Rice’s final two games.

Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon State vs. Florida (Saturday, Dec. 17)

Florida has one of the more notable opt-outs with QB Anthony Richardson electing not to play in order to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. WR Justin Shorter, OL O’Cyrus Torrence and LB Ventrell Miller have joined Richardson in opting out. Meanwhile, RB Lorenzo Lingard, WR Trent Whittemore, TE Nick Elksnis, OL Josh Braun, LB Diwun Black, DB Kamar Wilcoxson, DB Corey Collier have all entered the transfer portal.

Oregon State has three players who won’t be on the field for this game to due entering the portal or opting out: QB Chance Nolan (transfer), CB Ron Hardge (transfer), TE Luke Musgrave (opt-out). Meanwhile, CB Rejzoh Wright is out due to injury.

Frisco Bowl – Boise State vs. North Texas (Saturday, Dec. 17)

Boise State has been hit hard by injuries with their skill positions, the newest and most notable of which is RB George Holani after getting hurt in the Mountain West title game. He could still suit up. The only new transfer portal entry is TE Tyneil Hopper after QB Hank Bachmeier did so much earlier in the season.

North Texas only has one player possibly out as RB Oscar Adaway remains out but QB Austin Aune will play. The bigger thing of note is that DC Phil Bennett will be the interim head coach for the game after the Mean Green fired Seth Littrell at the end of the year.

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