Bowl Games Football Newsletters

Opt-outs in college football bowl games have significantly altered the landscape of postseason play. Players often choose to skip these games to prepare for the NFL Draft, avoiding the risk of injury that could jeopardize their professional careers³. This trend has led to a decrease in the overall competitiveness and appeal of many bowl games, as teams are often without their star players¹.

Additionally, the proliferation of bowl games and the establishment of a national playoff system have made non-playoff bowls seem less significant, further encouraging top players to opt out⁴. As a result, the traditional excitement and prestige associated with bowl games have diminished, impacting fan engagement and the financial viability of these events⁵.

The trend started in the 2016 college football season when Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and his LSU counterpart Leonard Fournette decided to opt out of their respective bowl games to prepare for the 2017 NFL draft.

Many players have since then followed in their footsteps. It is becoming quite hard for teams to have their top players available for bowl games, especially when they are not featured in the College Football Playoff.