Bowl/CFP Season Primer
Let's get caught up on the work being done to prepare for the Bowl and College Football Playoff (CFP) season already underway...
As we enter the bowl and College Football Playoff (CFP) season in earnest, we want to get you caught up on the work being done to prepare. With so much movement — both players and coaches — happening before these games kick off, we are here to help you sort it out and make good decisions while enjoying our final stretch of college football in 2025 and into 2026.
It’s like a new season begins, with many of these teams taking the field shorthanded or at least with new faces. So, let’s take a look at the most impactful players and coaches who will be missing and who their likely replacements are going to be. We will be tracking those players who may have announced intentions to enter the portal, but wind up playing and try to get ahead of those if there is information out there.
We also have the most comprehensive 2026 Portal Tracker up on the site now. You can begin browsing the top players who have announced their intentions to enter the portal — with the official opening coming January 2nd. We currently have 870 players on the tracker, with 25 committed to new schools. This is going to continue to pick up and go crazy this offseason. We’ll be on top of the portal's impacts for each team all winter and into the summer.
2025-26 Postseason Guide (PSG)
In case you missed it — we have published our first “Postseason Guide” at the site. This document takes you through the entire post-season, including bowls and CFP games. It includes opt out and portal trackers, ‘Game Cards,’ and team/player projections. You can take a look by clicking on the button below:
Understanding the college football world we live in, these flat documents become outdated with every passing minute. While it is still valuable, we must keep a live version available. So, we created the "PSG LIVE” page at the site, which includes everything, but with each update up-to-the-minute.
We are going to begin with the portal and NFL draft opt out trackers, sorted by individual player rating. These are lists of those we are tracking with games remaining this post season.
Note: Players who have announced intentions to enter the portal are unlikely to play, however, in some cases, they will play one more game for their school. It’s usually a preference set by the head coach. We are tracking these to get more data on the likelihood of this occuring and which coaches are willing to allow this to take place. Some are vocal about it — including Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, who is all about players sticking around to play as this is the ‘2025 season’ and they will deal with what happens for 2026 later on. Unfortunately, that willingness does not seem to translate into a good number of Sun Devils’ willing to take the field. They are one of the most impacted teams heading into their Sun Bowl matchup with Duke on New Year’s Eve.
PORTAL TRACKER ::::::
Miami (OH) LB Adam Trick [16.7] -- Announced his intentions to enter the portal, but may still play in the bowl game.
Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt [15.7] -- His foot injury will require surgery. Out for the season and now entering the portal.
Hawaii WR Jackson Harris [15.7] -- Announced he is entering the portal. Will not participate in the bowl game against Cal.
Appalachian State DL Rondo Porter [15.7] -- Entering portal. Not expected to play in the bowl game.
Wake Forest WR Chris Barnes [15.3] -- Announced plans to enter the portal. Doubtful to play in the bowl game.
Connecticut RB Cam Edwards [15.2] -- Announced his intention to enter the portal following the season. Unlikely to play in the bowl game.
Missouri RB Marquise Davis [15.2] -- Announced intentions to enter the portal. Unlikely to be available for the bowl game.
Minnesota RB Fame Ijeboi [15.2] -- Entering the portal. No word on whether he will suit up for the bowl game.
Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph [14.9] -- Entered the portal and is unlikely to play in the bowl game against USF.
Western Kentucky DB Dylan Flowers [14.9] -- Entered portal and no word on his bowl game participation.
Louisiana Tech RB Omiri Wiggins [14.8] -- Entered portal. Unlikely to play in LA Tech’s bowl game against Coastal Carolina.
Connecticut OL Ben Murawski [14.8] -- Assumption is that he won’t participate in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Miami (OH) WR Kam Perry [14.7] -- Announced his intentions to enter the portal, but may still play in the bowl game.
Wake Forest DL Mateen Ibirogba [14.7] -- Announced plans to enter the portal. Doubtful to play in the bowl game.
Missouri State WR Tristian Gardner [14.4] -- Entered portal. Unlikely to play in the bowl game.
Kennesaw State DB JeRico Washington Jr. [14.4] -- Announced his intentions to enter the portal but WILL play in the bowl game with the Owls.
Coastal Carolina OL Nick Del Grande [14.2] -- Added to the injury report on 11/26 ahead of the week 14 game vs JMU. Announced plans to enter portal.
Utah State WR Braden Pegan [14.1] -- Overcame a minor injury but now is entering the portal and is likely to sit out.
Arizona State DB Javan Robinson [14.1] -- Participation in the bowl game unlikely after entering the portal.
Appalachian State QB JJ Kohl [14.0] -- Starting QB. Entering portal. Not expected to play in the bowl game.
Indiana WR Makai Jackson [13.9] -- Left the program back in September and has officially entered the portal.
LSU DB Ashton Stamps [13.9] -- Left the program back in October after his playing time was limited. Will enter the portal.
Troy RB Tae Meadows [13.7] -- Not expected to play in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Cincinnati DB Christian Harrison [13.6] -- Announced intentions to enter the portal. Unlikely to play in bowl game.
Missouri DB Caleb Flagg [13.6] -- Left the Mizzou program in September and will enter the portal.
Appalachian State DL Dylan Manuel [13.6] -- Entering portal. Not expected to play in the bowl game.
Washington State DB Kenny Worthy III [13.6] -- Announced he is entering the portal. Unlikely to play in the bowl game.
Oregon DB Jahlil Florence [13.6] -- Left the program in early November. Will enter the portal and find a new home.
Virginia DB Ja’Son Prevard [13.5] -- Announced intentions to enter the portal. Playing in the bowl game is up in the air.
Houston LB Jesus Machado [13.5] -- Announced intentions to enter the portal and is unlikely to play in the bowl game after missing most of the season due to injury.
Penn State DB Elliot Washington II [13.5] -- Announced intentions to enter the portal. Unlikely to play in the bowl game.
USC LB Matai Tagoa’i [13.5] -- Entering the portal. Unlikely to play his reserve role in the bowl game.
Texas Tech K Upton Bellenfant [13.5] -- Not expected to play in the bowl game after entering the portal. Backup kicker.
Florida International DB Jessiah McGrew [13.5] -- Not expected to play in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Louisiana Tech DB Jhamal Shelby Jr. [13.4] -- Top CB. Entering the portal and unlikely to suite up for the bowl game.
Clemson LB Jamal Anderson [13.4] -- Could play one last game for the Tigers, but not a part of the regular rotation.
UTSA DB Davin Martin [13.4] -- Announced plans to enter the portal and his status for the bowl game is uncertain at best.
Miami (FL) DB Markeith Williams [13.3] -- Was dismissed from the program early in the season and did not play a role.
Appalachian State DL Thomas Davis [13.3] -- Entering portal. Not expected to play in the bowl game.
Connecticut OL Brady Wayburn [13.3] -- Not expected to play in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Louisiana Tech DB Jacob Fields [13.3] -- Starting SS. Entering portal and is unlikely to play in the bowl game against Coastal Carolina.
Missouri State DL DJ Wesolak [13.3] -- Entering the portal and is unlikely to play in the XBOX bowl.
Texas RB Jerrick Gibson [13.2] -- Left the program back in mid-October. Will enter the portal and find a new home for 2026.
Arizona State OL Josh Atkins [13.2] -- Starting LT is entering the portal—is not at practice and likely not to play in the bowl game.
Connecticut OL Carsten Casady [13.2] -- Starting RT. Assumption is that he won’t participate in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Connecticut DB Cam Chadwick [13.2] -- Assumption is that he won’t participate in the bowl game after entering the portal.
Mississippi State DB Tony Mitchell [13.1] -- Announced his intention to enter the portal. Unlikely to play in the bowl game.
Arizona DL Chancellor Owens [13.1] -- Not expected to play in the bowl game after announcing his intentions to enter the portal.
Florida International DB Mister Clark [13.1] -- Starting CB. Unlikely to play in the bowl game after announcing intentions to enter the portal.
Louisiana Tech LB Mekhi Mason [13.1] -- Starting LB. Entering portal and is unlikely to play in the bowl game against Coastal Carolina.
Louisiana OL Bryant Williams [13.0] -- Starting LT. Confirmed he will not play in bowl game after entering portal.
Arkansas State LB Javante Mackey [13.0] -- Left the program in early October and will enter the transfer portal.
There are more! Check them all out here »
NFL DRAFT RELATED NEWS ::::::
Nebraska LB Dasan McCullough: Confirmed he WILL play in the Cornhuskers’ bowl game.
Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson: Unlikely to play in the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Cincinnati DT Dontay Corleone: Unlikely to play in the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Arizona State DL Justin Wodtly: Has officially opted out of the bowl game as he prepares for the NFL combine.
Arizona State DL Clayton Smith: Injured but also prepping for the NFL Draft. He will not play in the Sun Bowl.
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson: Officially announced his intentions to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Very unlikely to play.
Boise State OL Kage Casey: Has declared for the NFL Draft. Did not play in the LA Bowl.
Clemson DB Avieon Terrell: Has been injured and declared on 12/8. Reports are that he won’t play in the bowl game.
Clemson WR Antonio Williams: Has declared on 12/8 but no difinitive word on whether he will opt out of their bowl game.
Clemson DL Peter Woods: Entering the NFL Draft. No word on if he’ll play one more game for the Tigers.
Clemson DL T.J. Parker: Announced intentions to enter the NFL Draft. Awaiting word on bowl participation.
Clemson DL Demonte Capehart: Made the announcement that he’d officially be entering the Draft. Not expected to play.
Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.: Has been dealing with an injury and announced that he’s entering the Draft.
Penn State DL Zane Durant: Will sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Penn State S Zakee Wheatley: Will not play in the Pinstripe Bowl after announcing his preparation for the NFL Draft.
Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton: Announced he will sit out the Pinstripe Bowl to avoid injury and focus on the NFL Draft.
Penn State DL Olaivavega Ioane: Announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft and will not play in the bowl game.
LSU LB Harold Perkins: Accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, further indications he’ll enter the NFL Draft.
Tennessee DB Jermod McCoy: Never made it on the field in 2025 due to injury. Declares for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II: Will opt out of the bowl game to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee LB Arion Carter: Leaving a year early for the 2026 NFL Draft. Will opt out of the bowl game.
USC TE Lake McRee: Unlikely to play in the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Illinois LB Gabe Jacas: Will not play in the bowl game as he prepares for the NFL Draft.
Illinois OL J.C. Davis: Will not play in the bowl game as he prepares for the NFL Draft.
POSTSEASON RUN DOWN ::::::
We are one game in with Washington taking it to Boise State on Saturday. Here is a look at the “Run Down” as it stands (pulled from the PSG):
We will be providing some in-depth previews and breakdowns and we’ll post them here with some time before the games. Tonight, we have the Salute to Veterans Bowl and we’ll provide a break down a bit later on.
Thanks for following along as we head down the stretch of 2025 and into 2026…