Rickochet Watching a bit of the Gator bowl with Duke and Ole Miss. There seems to be more empty seats than occupied ones. Pretty sad. It's like the camera crews are intentionally not showing shots of the seats.
Meaningless games with many of the best players sitting out. Who wants to travel for that?
Facts that don't seem to be known about the transfer portal and bowl games plus the CFP teams.
1.) An athlete can play in a bowl game if he has entered the transfer portal. Players choice depending on what their NIL contract states. No one knows what NIL contracts state on anything. Example Wisconsin has not released Xavier Lucas as his NIL deal had paid him x $$$ dollars for 2025 but he tried to enter the portal and Wisconsin said no. It looks bad on both sides. I believe they are trying to work this out so Lucas can sign with Miami.
2.) Athletes on teams that compete in the College Football Playoff and later bowl game will be allowed to enter an additional five-day transfer window in January.
I don't understand people who want less college football.
Anyways, if I was in charge of the playoffs I would expand to 16 teams and have the championship game on New Year's day in teh Rose Bowl every year.
scotts33 Good to know, it is interesting to me to know why some players don't play. Where is the influence and pressure coming from. Players clearly are trying to find teams that will essentially give them a place to play but may demand no injury risk. Assuming parents are telling them not to get hurt with projections of future NFL money. let along NIL money. Plus, players are falsely believing this hype. The Louisville PUNTER said he did not play in the bowl game due to a NIL promise that was not met back in Sep '24. The punter gets NIL??
BTW, the only player I have seen in a commercial is Bama QB Milroe. And frankly, I did not recognize him until they pasted his name. So just paying them to play not for their name.
Bravopilot The punter gets NIL??
Yes there were 2500 student-athletes 
in the NCAA transfer portal last year. If the player can get a university to pay them and they want him that bad they'll pay placekickers and punters maybe even long snappers.
Bravopilot Where is the influence and pressure coming from.
Mostly parents but also the university they are going to but that should tell the player that if the university that they are going to doesn't want me to play what does that say about that university and coaching staff.
ode I think it’ll be an all B1G final. OSU is looking like a lock at the moment. Don’t know what they figured out during the break, but boy did they ever figure something out. Texas is going to have to throw all caution out to have a chance.
So, in the NFL, players will sit out in order to not get hurt, in favor of playing mere 'playoff' games that may lead to the SB.
In the NCAA, players will play all season, with the appearance of playing towards bowl games, but when bowl season arrives & they got 1 locked in, they will sit out in favor of not getting hurt so they may earn a few more dollars from another school, the next season. Then IF they get to the NFL, line of thought changes.
It all makes sense to Rex. 
Par4QC Who is Rex? Recommend you get your eyes checked
Are those from the transfer portal allowed to play in the upcoming games? Saw where Penn State got 2 players.
Bravopilot Watching too many Seinfeld reruns. 
jsippy73 I don’t think players are allowed to play for two different schools “within the same academic year”.
ode favorably, although I'm not sure why you are asking
Because OSU tore Oregon apart. PSU lost to them. I'm seeing the end of the road for Penn State when they play Notre Dame and OSU beating Texas.
Spartan The NIL contracts should require playing in a bowl game if the team makes one.
Why? Why should it be different now when prior to NIL some "stars" forecast to be first round draft picks would bail on their teams - not often, but it happened? Also, the portal is different from NIL. The portal timing requirements and limitations aren't part of NIL. One can't leave what had been their school, begin a next semester at a new school and still play for the previous team.
professor ok, Ohio St playing the way they have the last two weeks beats anyone put in front of them! Ironically the fan base was calling for Day''s head on a spike. I'd say a helluva response the last few weeks. I know Buckeye nation views the Michigan game as everything but as it turns out not such a bad loss. Michigan is playing damn good football! I see ND/PSU as a good/even matchup. If I had to pick I'd say PSU has the edge. I am cheering for B1G. If that's the way it ends up will PSU get its revenge like Ohio St. did.....that would be a helluva storyline!
Par4QC So, in the NFL, players will sit out in order to not get hurt, in favor of playing mere 'playoff' games that may lead to the SB.
Your comparing apples to oranges. In the NFL, they're not sitting out the post-season game that was their team's season-long goal.
ode
I think Penn State is really solid - especially so on both the defensive front and the offensive line. Penn State has a strength in their running game. I don't believe they're as explosive as Ohio State or Notre Dame's team speed. Allar is the typical PSU QB - above average but not much more. He's not going to lose the game for 'ya but, he's not gonna take a game over either.
Can James Franklin win the big one? I dunno.
For me Marcus Freeman is the best coach of the 4 left. Irish special teams can win a game for them. Ryan Day has the Buckeyes playing angry. Sarkisian has a lot of tire wear on him. SS has an issue with their placekicker if it comes down to needing a pivotal field goal.
