College football bowl season has long been a huge holiday tradition for bettors, but analyzing the bowl game odds isn't as easy as simply breaking down the team.
Thanks to the NCAA's transfer portal, keeping up with which players are actually participating is now equally as important.
To help you stay on top of all the movement, we will have a game-by-game opt-out tracker — plus live college football odds — for each Bowl Game matchup.
Bowl game opt-outs and injuries for 2025-26
Here is the full slate of 2025-26 bowl game matchups. Click on a specific bowl to see the latest opt-outs.
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Saturday, December 13
Celebration Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
South Carolina State
No injuries or opt-outs reported
Prairie View A&M
No injuries or opt-outs reported
Bucked Up LA Bowl
Saturday, December 13
LA Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Boise State
Ty Benefield (SAF)
Kage Casey (OT)
Ben Ford (WR) - injured
Washington
Charlie Crowell (TE) - undisclosed injury
Tacario Davis (CB) - undisclosed injury
Kade Eldridge (TE) - foot injury
Justice Williams (WR) - undisclosed injury
Rashid Williams (WR) - collarbone injury
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Tuesday, December 16
Salute to Veterans Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Troy
Tae Meadows (RB) - Transfer Portal
DJ Jackson Jr. (DL) - Transfer Portal
Goose Crowder (QB) - ankle injury
Jacksonville State
Aghogho Eyafe (WR) - undisclosed injury
Lucas Farrington (RB) - undisclosed injury
Nabi Hoyt (WR) - undisclosed injury
Jalen Likely (RB) - undisclosed injury
Brock Rechsteiner (WR) - undisclosed injury
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Cure Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Old Dominion
Colton Joseph (QB) - Transfer Portal
Maurki James (RB) - undisclosed injury
Titus Myers (WR) - undisclosed injury
South Florida
Byrum Brown (QB)
Kajuan Banks (CB)
Alex Golesh (HC) - Hired by Auburn
Jaden Alexis (WR) - undisclosed injury
Christian Neptune (WR) - undisclosed injury
Chas Nimrod (WR) - undisclosed injury
Cartevious Norton (RB) - undisclosed injury
Kory Pettigrew (WR) - undisclosed injury
Brandon Winton (WR) - undisclosed injury
Weston Wolff (TE) - undisclosed injury
68 Ventures Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
68 Ventures Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Louisiana
Bryant Williams (OT) - Transfer Portal
Delaware
Thomas Amankwaa (WR) - undisclosed injury
Ja'Carree Kelly (WR) - undisclosed injury
Zach Marker (QB) - leg injury
Oliver Redd (RB) - undisclosed injury
Calvin Thomas (WR) - undisclosed injury
Connor Witthoft (TE) - undisclosed injury
Xbox Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Xbox Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Missouri State
Tristian Gardner (WR)
JJ O'Neal (DB)
DJ Wesolak (DL)
Ryan Beard (HC) - Hired by Coastal Carolina
No injuries reported
Arkansas State
Nana Burris (WR) - undisclosed injury
Jabari Bush (TE) - undisclosed injury
Ja'Quez Cross (TE) - undisclosed injury
Tyler Little (TE) - undisclosed injury
Cash Hudson (OC) - Transfer Portal
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Friday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Kennesaw State
JeRico Washington (CB) - Transfer Portal
Caleb Offord (CB) - injury
Garland Benyard (LB) - injury
Antonio Stevens (SAF) - injury
Western Michigan
Nadame Tucker (DE)
Cole Cabana (RB) - injury
Noah Bishop (DL) - injury
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Friday, Dec. 19
Gasparilla Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Memphis
Ryan Silverfield (HC) - Hired by Arkansas
Travis Burke (OT) - injury
Jaidyn Denis (CB) - injury
Oliver Castaneda (K) - injury
Grant Troutman (QB) - injury
Chauncey Logan Jr. (CB) - injury
Crews Law (LB) - injury
Kourtian Marsh (DB) - injury
Samson Israel (CB) - Transfer Portal
NC State
Justin Joly (TE)
Hollywood Smothers (RB) - Transfer Portal
Brandon Cleveland (DT)
Devon Marshall (CB)
Jacarius Peak (LT)
Kamen Smith (OG) - injury
Brody Barnhardt (SAF) - injury
Sean Brown (LB) - injury
Jamel Johnson (CB) - injury
Jaren Sensabaugh (CB) - injury
Rente Hinton (S) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Friday, Dec. 19
CFP R1 Game 1 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game:
Alabama
Zabien Brown (CB) - injury
Josh Cuevas (TE) - injury
Kelby Collins (DL) - injury
Kevin Dewberry (OG) - injury
Justin Jefferson (LB) - injury
Jam Miller (RB) - injury
LT Overton (DL) - injury
Kevin Riley (RB) - injury
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (DB) - injury
Jah-Marien Latham (LB) - injury
Kameron Howard (DB) - injury
Jeremiah Beaman (DL) - injury
Oklahoma
Jovantae Barnes (RB) - injury
Heath Ozaeta (OG) - injury
Jake Maikkula (OG) - injury
Troy Everett (OL) - injury
Mykel Patterson-McDonald - Transfer Portal
R Mason Thomas (DL) - injury
Gentry Williams (CB) - injury
Jeremiah Newcombe (DB) - injury
Gentry Williams (DB) - injury
Troy Everett (OL) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
CFP R1 Game 2 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game:
Miami
Damari Brown (CB) - injury
Malik Bryant (LB) - injury
Dylan Upshaw (WR) - injury
Keionte Scott (DB) - injury
Texas A&M
Collin Klein (OC) - Hired by Kansas State
Jay Bateman (DC) - Hired by Kentucky
Le'Veon Moss (RB) - injury
Jerome Myles (WR) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
CFP R1 Game 3 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game:
Tulane
Jon Sumrall (HC) - Hired by Florida
TJ Finley (QB) - Transfer Portal
Dickson Agu (LB) - injury
Bryce Bohanon (WR) - injury
Gerrod Henderson (DL) - injury
Dickson Agu (LB) - injury
Jayden Lewis (DB) - injury
LeRon Husbands (TE) - injury
Ty Thompson (TE) - injury
Mississippi
Lane Kiffin (HC) - Hired by LSU
Cedrick Beavers (CB) - injury
Raymond Collins (LB) - injury
Antonio Kite (CB) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
CFP R1 Game 4 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game:
James Madison
Bob Chesney (HC) - Hired by UCLA
Jamal Olford (CB) - injury
Cam McNair (OL) - injury
Brandon Fique (LB) - injury
Lee Johnson (LB) - injury
Oregon
Will Stein (OC) - Hired by Kentucky
Tosh Lupoi (DC) - Hired by Cal
Dakoda Fields (CB) - Transfer Portal
Jahlil Florence (CB) - Transfer Portal
Bryce Boulton (OL) - injury
Justius Lowe (WR) - injury
Kyle Kasper (WR) - injury
Gernorris Wilson (OL) - injury
Solomon Davis (DB) - injury
Da'Jaun Riggs (RB) - injury
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Monday, Dec. 22
Potato Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Washington State
Anthony Palano (LB) - Transfer Portal
Kenny Worthy (CB) - Transfer Portal
Jaxson Porter (QB) - Transfer Portal
Braden Pegan (WR) - Transfer Portal
Tony Freeman (WR) - Transfer Portal
Carter Pabst (WR) - injury
Brock Dieu (OL) - injury
Utah State
Naki Fahina (DL) - injury
Williams Holmes (LB) - injury
Broc Lane (TE) - injury
Bush's Boca Raton Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Boca Raton opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Toledo
Jason Candle (HC) - Hired by UConn
Vince Kehres (DC) - Hired by Syracuse
Malachi Davis (EDGE) - Transfer Portal
Louisville
Rene Konga (DT)
Wesley Bailey (EDGE)
New Orleans Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
New Orleans Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Western Kentucky
Dylan Flowers (CB) - Transfer Portal
La'Vell Wright (RB) - Transfer Portal
Southern Miss
-
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Frisco Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
UNLV
-
Ohio
-
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 24
Hawai'i Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
California
-
Hawai'i
Jackson Harris (WR) - Transfer Portal
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Friday, Dec. 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Central Michigan
Kade Kostus (DL) - Transfer Portal
David Chapeau (P) - Transfer Portal
Northwestern
-
Rate Bowl
Friday, Dec. 26
Rate Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
New Mexico
-
Minnesota
Fame Ijeboi (RB) - Transfer Portal
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Friday, December 26
First Responder Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
FIU
Mister Clark (CB) - Transfer Portal
Victor Evans III (CB)
UTSA
Chidera Otutu (DL) - Transfer Portal
Daemian Wimberly (EDGE) - Transfer Portal
KK Meier (DB) - Transfer Portal
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Military Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Pittsburgh
-
East Carolina
Katin Houser (QB) - Transfer Portal
Jayvontay Conner (TE) - Transfer Portal
Yannick Smith (WR) - Transfer Portal
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Pinstripe Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Penn State
Zane Durant (DL) - NFL Draft
Zakee Wheatley (SAF) - NFL Draft
Olaivavega Ioane (OL) - NFL Draft
Nicholas Singleton (RB) - NFL Draft
Clemson
Khalil Barnes (SAF) - Transfer Portal
Jamal Anderson (LB) - Transfer Portal
DeMonte Capehart (DT)
Avieon Terrell (CB) - injury
Dee Crayton (LB) - Transfer Portal
T.J. Parker (EDGE) - NFL Draft
Antonio Williams (WR) - NFL Draft
Peter Woods (DT) - NFL Draft
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Fenway Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
UConn
Cam Edwards (RB) - Transfer Portal
Joe Fagnano (QB) - NFL Draft
Skyler Bell (WR) - NFL Draft
Mel Brown (RB) - Transfer Portal
Ben Murawski (OT) - Transfer Portal
Carsten Casady (OT) - Transfer Portal
Cam Chadwick (CB) - Transfer Portal
MJ Flowers (RB) - Transfer Portal
Brady Wayburn (OG) - Transfer Portal
Oumar Diomande (LB) - Transfer Portal
Osiris Gilbert (CB) - Transfer Portal
Victor Rosa (RB) - Transfer Portal
Army
-
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Pop-Tarts Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Georgia Tech
-
BYU
-
Snopp Dogg Arizona Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Arizona Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Miami (OH)
Dequan Finn (QB)
Kam Perry (WR) - Transfer Portal
Adam Trick (DL) - Transfer Portal
Michael Yharbrough (CB) - Transfer Portal
Fresno State
-
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
New Mexico Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
North Texas
-
San Diego State
Jared Badie (EDGE) - Transfer Portal
August Salvati (EDGE) - Transfer Portal
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
Gator Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Virginia
Ja'Son Prevard (CB)
Missouri
Marquis Johnson (WR) - Transfer Portal
Beau Pribula (QB) - Transfer Portal
Kinder's Texas Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
Texas Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
LSU
Mansoor Delane (CB) - NFL Draft
Ahmad Breaux (DL) - Transfer Portal
Houston
Demetrius Hunter (OL)
JLab Birmingham Bowl
Monday, Dec. 29
Birmingham Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Georgia Southern
-
App State
-
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Independence Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Coastal Carolina
-
Louisiana Tech
-
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Music City Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Tennessee
Boo Carter (CB)
Jake Merklinger (QB) - Transfer Portal
Illinois
-
Valero Alamo Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Alamo Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
USC
Makai Lemon (WR) - NFL Draft
TCU
Josh Hoover (QB) - Transfer Portal
ReliaQuest Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Iowa
Judah Mallette (WR) - Transfer Portal
Vanderbilt
-
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Sun Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Arizona State
Sam Leavitt (QB), Chamon Metayer (TE)
Duke
Brian Parker II (OT) - NFL Draft
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Citrus Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Michigan
-
Texas
CJ Baxter (RB)
Jaylon Guilbeau (CB) - NFL Draft
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Vegas Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Nebraska
Emmett Johnson (RB)
Utah
-
Cotton Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Wednesday, Dec. 31
CFP Quarterfinal 1 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Orange Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 2 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Rose Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 3 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Sugar Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 4 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Armed Forces Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Rice
-
Texas State
-
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Liberty Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Navy
-
Cincinnati
-
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Duke's Mayo Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Wake Forest
-
Mississippi State
-
Trust & Will Holiday Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Holiday Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl:
Arizona
-
SMU
-
Fiesta Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal
Thursday, Jan. 8
CFP Semifinal 1 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Peach Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal
Friday, Jan. 9
CFP Semifinal 2 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, Jan. 20
CFP National Championship opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of the National Championship once the official matchup is set.
2025 college football bowl game schedule
| Bowl Name | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Celebration Bowl | Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, GA |
Sat, 12/13 |
| LA Bowl | SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA |
Sat, 12/13 |
| Salute to Veterans Bowl | Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL |
Tues, 12/16 |
| Cure Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL |
Wed, 12/17 |
| 68 Ventures Bowl | Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, AL |
Wed, 12/17 |
| Xbox Bowl | Ford Center At The Star Frisco, TX |
Thu, 12/18 |
| Myrtle Beach Bowl | Brooks Stadium Conway, SC |
Fri, 12/19 |
| Gasparilla Bowl | Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL |
Fri, 12/19 |
| CFP First Round | Memorial Stadium Norman, OK |
Fri, 12/19 |
| CFP First Round | Kyle Field College Station, TX |
Sat, 12/20 |
| CFP First Round | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS |
Sat, 12/20 |
| CFP First Round | Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR |
Sat, 12/20 |
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID |
Mon, 12/22 |
| Boca Raton Bowl | Flagler Credit Union Stadium Boca Raton, FL |
Tue, 12/23 |
| New Orleans Bowl | Caesars Superdome New Orleans, LA |
Tue, 12/23 |
| Frisco Bowl | Ford Center At The Star Frisco, TX |
Tue, 12/23 |
| Hawai'i Bowl | Clarence T. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI |
Wed, 12/24 |
| GameAbove Sports Bowl | Ford Field Detroit, MI |
Fri, 12/26 |
| Rate Bowl | Chase Field Phoenix, AZ |
Fri, 12/26 |
| First Responder Bowl | Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dallas, TX |
Fri, 12/26 |
| Military Bowl | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Pinstripe Bowl | Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Fenway Bowl | Fenway Park Boston, MA |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Pop-Tarts Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Arizona Bowl | Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ |
Sat, 12/27 |
| New Mexico Bowl | University Stadium Albuquerque, NM |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Gator Bowl | EverBank Stadium Jacksonville, FL |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Texas Bowl | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
Sat, 12/27 |
| Birmingham Bowl | Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL |
Mon, 12/29 |
| Independence Bowl | Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA |
Tue, 12/30 |
| Music City Bowl | Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN |
Tue, 12/30 |
| Alamo Bowl | Alamodome San Antonio, TX |
Tue, 12/30 |
| ReliaQuest Bowl | Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL |
Wed, 12/31 |
| Sun Bowl | Sun Bowl El Paso, TX |
Wed, 12/31 |
| Citrus Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL |
Wed, 12/31 |
| Las Vegas Bowl | Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV |
Wed, 12/31 |
| Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal) |
AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX |
Wed, 12/31 |
| Orange Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal) |
Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL |
Thu, 1/1 |
| Rose Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal) |
Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA |
Thu, 1/1 |
| Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal) |
Caesars Superdome New Orleans, LA |
Thu, 1/1 |
| Armed Forces Bowl | Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX |
Fri, 1/2 |
| Liberty Bowl | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Memphis, TN |
Fri, 1/2 |
| Duke's Mayo Bowl | Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC |
Fri, 1/2 |
| Holiday Bowl | Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, CA |
Fri, 1/2 |
| Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal) |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium New Orleans, LA |
Thu, 2/8 |
| Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinal) |
AT&T Stadium Dallas, TX |
Thu, 1/9 |
| CFP National Championship | Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL |
Mon, 1/19 |
Why do players opt out of playing in bowl games?
Players skip bowl games mostly for self-preservation and business reasons, not because they don’t care in the outcome of the game.
For top NFL prospects, the main concern is injury risk before the annual draft. A bad knee injury in a mostly “exhibition” bowl can cost millions in draft position and even shorten a career. High-profile cases like Notre Dame star Jaylon Smith, who saw his draft stock drop after suffering a devastating injury in the Fiesta Bowl, is the cautionary tale every agent brings up.
The transfer portal adds another layer. Once a player decides to transfer, playing in a bowl for a staff they’re leaving while risking injury before a fresh start often makes little sense. Some schools have even struggled to field full rosters after large portal waves.
You also see opt-outs tied to coaching changes, NIL and draft training. If a head coach bolts or an OC is fired, players may choose to protect their body, lock in draft prep with trainers, and avoid one more month of hits for a game that doesn’t impact a title chase in the modern CFP era.
What is the Transfer Portal?
The NCAA Transfer Portal is an online database the NCAA launched in 2018 to manage and publicize college athletes’ intent to transfer between schools. It's a sort of centralized “free agency” board in which coaches and recruiters at other NCAA schools can see a player's profile and legally contact them about transferring once they have officially entered the portal.
For football, the portal is now one of the main roster-building tools at both the FBS and FCS levels. A player who wants to move tells their current school’s compliance office; the school must enter the athlete’s name in the portal within a short time frame (generally two business days). Once listed, the athlete can be recruited by other programs and explore scholarship and playing-time opportunities elsewhere.
Transfers are regulated by portal windows which are specific dates when players can enter their names. Recent rule changes have settled on a single main window for Division I football in early January (with a short extra window for College Football Playoff participants), replacing longer December and spring periods.
Can players enter the Transfer Portal multiple times?
Yes, players now can transfer multiple times without having to sit out a season, as long as they meet academic and timing requirements. This has accelerated roster turnover and made the portal a critical tool for coaches who want experienced players instead of relying solely on high school recruiting.
Can players return to their original school after entering the Transfer Portal?
Yes, although it isn't common. The portal is basically a “I’m open to talking” signal, not an instant transfer. Until a player actually enrolls at a new school and signs scholarship paperwork there, they’re still eligible to return.
The original school has a choice: Once a player enters the portal, the school is allowed (but not required) to pull or reallocate that scholarship for the next term. So coming back usually depends on whether the staff wants them back and whether there’s still a scholarship and roster spot available.
