I remember years ago on New Years day the plan was to turn on football and not move off the couch unless necessary. Those days there were no playoff games and bowl games had were based on conference v.s conference matchups by contract or the hottest teams of the day because they would draw the biggest crowd or the most eyes if you were not able to go to the game. Even then there was talk in those days the way you played in the bowl game affected your draft status. Even then there was talk of paying players because of the amount of money the school made off football and bowl games. For close to thirty years the NCAA has tried to put the two best teams to decide which is the Champion. And they have done, as they say the road hell are paved with good intention. With the transfer portal because players should be able to switch schools like coaches and NIL deals where players are getting paid for their talents and the movement of the conferences towards the Midwest and southeast, college football isn't going to look anything like it did in the nineties and the early two thousands. 

But what is grinding my gears right now is the players opting out because people are in their ears on and off social media that they are going to be first round picks and make crazy money. Being a Bears fan I've heard people talk about getting rid of Justin Fields which is ridiculous looking at all the backup quarterbacks that have been used this year like 4 in Minnesota. Justin Fields is not perfect but neither is the talent around him. From the offensive line to the backs and receivers. They may get a player here or there but it is clear the Bears are not building around Justin Fields to put the Bears on the level of other competitive teams. I digress.

What if you paid your money for tickets and airfare to travel to see your favorite team in a bowl game only to find out your favorite/best player has decided not to play. 

Georgia demolished No. 5 Florida State 63-3 in what was the largest margin of victory in bowl history, topping the Bulldogs' 58-point win over TCU in last season's national championship game. But the lopsided score was due, in part at least, to a host of opt-outs and injuries for the Seminoles.

According to Georgia's Head Coach Kirby Smart, "People need to see what happened tonight, and they need to fix this," Smart said, lamenting the flood of opt-outs and portal entries on teams playing in non-playoff bowl games. "It needs to be fixed. It's very unfortunate that they have a good football team and a good football program and they're in the position they're in."

The Seminoles played without their top two quarterbacks, top two running backs, top two receivers, starting tight end, three starting defensive linemen, two of three starting linebackers and three starting defensive backs. They were down 29 scholarship players in all.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell strongly intimated that the College Football Playoff committee's decision to leave a 13-0 Seminoles team out of the playoff in favor of two one-loss teams -- Texas and Alabama -- motivated a significant number of his team's opt-outs. 

As they say don't hate the player hate the game. Love of football will never wane but love of college football the way they're heading you might as well turn it into NFL light or a version of the G-League. I remember when it was a big thing to note how many college athletes especially football and basketball players were graduating. They touted the academics of the players and awarded them for their talents off the field. Now it isn't spoken of and loyalty has gone out the door as players who have had stellar years are transferring possibly to put themselves into a position to get drafted. 

According to ESPN: Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter, who helped the Flames to their first league title and New Year's Six bowl appearance, is set to enter the transfer portal, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

Salter, the Conference USA MVP, informed the coaching staff of his intent, the source said.

Salter had 2,876 passing yards with 32 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, completing 61% of his passes. He also ran for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking 36th nationally and third among quarterbacks behind Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU and Boston College's Thomas Castellanos. 

Enough said. G©