USC the #2 defense?
Oops! Nope, good catch. Flip that. USC 2 offense, 54 defense.
It'll be interesting to see the defensive approach in this one. If we lie back and play passive, it'll be Washington all over again. Hopefully, the offense can put up 30+ points at a minimum. I'd love to pull out a win, but as long as we don't lay an egg and keep things close, it should be a great game.
Using FPI, heading into the Citrus Bowl last year:
The 'insure' part is the killer. Most college football players want to play in and win higher end bowl games, but with potential millions hanging in the balance, it just doesn't make sense, especially when there's additional incentive to spend that time training for the combine to increase your measurables which can also be worth millions more than playing in the bowl game. It's honestly a sucky situation where fans don't get what they want and players need to sacrifice their own short term desires for a much better long-term financial security.
With Luke, the interesting factor is that Tennessee is the team that offered him $2 million before the season. I don’t know if that’s extra incentive to play in the game but it’s certainly a talking point for us and the media.
This all makes 100 percent sense. But why opt out only for the bowl game? It seems like a snowy game vs. Northwestern would be a good one to skip as well, from a risk/reward standpoint.
This has always been my contention. I mean, why wouldn’t Purdue players, for example, opt out after the 7th loss with no hopes of even making a bowl game? Some would say “that’s quitting on your team,” and I’d agree. But is it any less of a quit than opting out of the final game your teammates have worked so hard to earn?
I don't disagree with you. And my gut feel is that if someone prominent starts sitting out say once they're realistically out of playoff contention that will likely become the new norm. I think the only thing standing in the way of that right now is fear the NFL might look at that as quitting on your team and teammates (and rightfully so in my opinion). I don't see any of this as a good thing overall from anyone's standpoint, but I also don't see a real practical way around it.
I see you beat me to the punch. But yeah, I agree. Gut feel is it'll eventually happen and become the norm which would be awful for college sports. Fear of the NFL coaches thinking they're not a team player and dropping them on their boards would be the only thing in the way of this happening as NIL is not technically *cough* pay to play or associated with the university
Did you see DeQuan Finn just shut it down for the season with three weeks left to play? Miami (OH) starting QB left the team with 5 wins and a chance at the conference title still on the table.
Players down the depth chart are already leaving early to preserve eligibility. It happened to us with Elzy.
NFL coaches do not think that. Remember the whole nonsense about Cam Ward taking himself out after breaking a record? He was the #1 pick. Nick Emmanwori quit our bowl game at halftime and went 35th overall and is currently one of the best rookies in the league.
Bowl games are different than shutting yourself down in the regular season to prep for the draft. That said, once 1st round talent starts doing it and everyone sees their stock isn't affected Ted, it'll become common and to your point, it likely won't affect anything.
Purdue players wouldn't opt out after week 7 because none of them are going to the NFL anyway !
Both Tenn and Ill need to get rid of their DC if they want to be serious football teams....Tennessee pulled the plug first and for that reason I have more confidence that they will win this game.
