Notable College Football Players Sitting Out of 2025 Bowl Games
It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's college football postseason, and for 12 rosters, that means exciting College Football Playoff prep. For others, it's a end-of-year bowl matchup.
Then, there others who are gonna sit out their games—whether to prepare for the NFL draft or contemplate a future change of scenery.
So it goes in today's world of college football.
Obviously, if you're in the playoffs, you're there with your team (well, unless you're Lane Kiffin). As far as players go, that's the pinnacle of why you come to college and play the games—other than the money now.
But bowl games? Eh, they're nice for the extra practice, the bowl gifts and offseason bragging rights and excitement-building. They aren't exactly important, though, which is why you see a lot of kids not put their futures on the line.
If you're getting ready to wager on the bowls or want to know if it's worth traveling to see your teams play, check who's playing and who's not. Here's an early list of some of the top names who won't be suiting up this postseason, and there are likely still many more to go.
Skyler Bell, UConn Wide Receiver
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It's not easy for a player on the level of the UConn Huskies to receive a ton of national recognition, but that was the case for All-American pass-catcher Skyler Bell, who became a household name.
The 6'0", 185-pound Bronx, New York, native was a revelation for coach Jim Mora's Huskies this year, catching 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the team to a resurgent campaign. For his terrific season, he was named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's top receiver.
The catalyst for unlocking Bell's massive potential and taking it to another level was his chemistry with quarterback Joe Fagano, who transferred from Maine and blossomed into a star. Now, neither of them are expected to play in the Fenway Bowl against Army.
Neither of them have any eligibility remaining, so both will turn their attention toward the NFL draft and hope a team picks them up. Bell's mass production certainly should help him, though he's undersized.
A huge final season in Stoors really should help Fagano get a few looks, too.
Regardless, the program is at a crossroad with new coach Jason Candle getting ready to take over for Mora, who left for Colorado State. Life will be much tougher in the post-Bell era.
Byrum Brown, South Florida Quarterback
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With Alex Golesh off to Auburn to be the head coach, explosive quarterback Byrum Brown has some decisions to make.
After a season that saw him throw for 3,158 yards, run for 1,008 more and account for an incredible 42 touchdowns, Brown won't play in the Cure Bowl for the Bulls against Old Dominion. Instead, he'll stand on the sideline in a headset as a coach.
Brown has meant so much to the program in Tampa, but now, it's a question of what his '26 and beyond will look like. While Golesh inherits Ashton Daniels and former 5-star prospect Deuce Knight on the Plains, the staff encouraged Jackson Arnold to explore his options in the transfer portal.
You have to think Brown could throw his helmet into the ring at Auburn and the be the favorite, but not all three of those guys would stay with the Tigers.
There's also the possibility of Brown eschewing his final year of college ball and taking his shot in the NFL, where he'd likely get drafted. There's also the possibility he could be re-recruited to Tampa by Brian Hartline's staff.
One thing's certain, though: Brown isn't playing in this meaningless bowl as he tries to make an all-important decision on his future.
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee Wide Receiver
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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel's rocket-launching offense is going to have to produce points without its biggest weapon, and the defense is going to have holes to fill, too.
Biletnikoff Award finalist Chris Brazzell II—who is a major star and Joey Aguilar's top pass-catcher—will prepare for the NFL draft rather than play Illinois in the Music City Bowl. He has the potential to go in the first two or three rounds.
While starting linebacker Arion Carter and edge-rusher Joshua Josephs will miss the game to prepare for the NFL, that's a big deal for a unit that was awful this season. But an offense that had to outscore opponents surely will miss Brazzell, who caught 62 passes for 1,019 yards and scored nine times.
After a disappointing first season on Rocky Top a year ago after transferring from Tulane, Brazzell really broke out this year with Aguilar under center.
The Vols will have to lean on Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley and others with Brazzell out, but he represents Tennessee's biggest deep threat.
It looks like the 6'5", 200-pound Texas native is the next Vols NFL receiver.
Mansoor Delane, LSU Cornerback
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It was a nightmarish 2025 season for the LSU Tigers when it came to meeting expectations, leading to firing Brian Kelly and the ultimate hiring of Lane Kiffin after a whirlwind search.
None of the frustrations were due to Blake Baker's defense, though, which is why Kiffin will retain the defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge. One superstar Baker won't have at his disposal in a shutdown defense in the Texas Bowl against Houston.
Shutdown cornerback Mansoor Delane was arguably one of the top playmakers in the SEC this year, winding up with first-team all-conference honors after transferring from Virginia Tech.
Now, the long, rangy defensive back will head to the NFL, where he almost assuredly will be a first-round pick.
The 6'0", 190-pound defender will be right up there with Tennessee's Jermod McCoy for the top cornerback taken after a year where he finished with 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions.
There's nothing to be gained for Delane playing against the Cougars in a meaningless bowl, and you just can't take the chance of getting injured and losing millions. The next time we get to watch him play will be on Sundays.
Jackson Harris, Hawaii Wide Receiver
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One of the best offensive players in the Group of Five is trying to head on to bigger and better things in 2025.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors' sophomore pass-catcher Jackson Harris was a breakout star this past season, catching 49 passes for 963 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns in what was a huge season on the island.
Now, the 6'3", 205-pound Berkeley, California, native likely will head back to the mainland to play his final year or two of eligibility, deciding to enter the transfer portal and leave coach Timmy Chang's team.
Harris will not play in the Hawaii Bowl against his hometown California Bears and instead will try to head somewhere, make big-time money in the portal and get higher visibility for NFL scouts. The rising junior certainly has the size and playmaking ability to be a pro prospect.
If he goes to a Power Four program and shows out, he could surge up draft boards next year.
Whoever gets him will have a potential weapon with two seasons of eligibility. This will be Harris' second time to transfer after joining the Rainbow Warriors from Stanford a season ago.
"We wish him the best of luck, and we thank him for playing here, and you know, that's just how it goes," Chang told Hawaii News Now. "I knew this day was coming, so you know it's a question that we have to answer, but Jackson made the decision for him and his family, and we have to honor that."
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas Linebacker
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For the past couple of seasons, Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski rebuilt the Longhorns defense into a powerhouse.
Most of that has work was done through terrific recruiting wins, and while portal additions like Trey Moore (who will sit out the bowl game as well to prepare for the NFL draft) helped, getting players like 5-star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to sign was huge.
Hill wound up one of the most versatile, athletic second-level defenders in the nation throughout his three years in Austin. From being too talented to keep off the field as a true freshman to leading the defense, Hill has been the centerpiece of success.
Now, the 6'3", 238-pound linebacker will sit out the Citrus Bowl against Michigan to prepare for the NFL draft, where he almost assuredly will be a first-round pick.
Hill battled injuries in '25 and finished with 70 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. In other words, he filled up the stat sheet just like he has throughout his career with the 'Horns.
Last year, Hill showed what he can do when he's fully healthy, amassing 113 tackles and eight sacks. It's that kind of production that will make him a valuable asset in the pros.
Gabe Jacas, Illinois Edge
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Chris Brazzell II isn't the only big-name player who will sit out of the Music City Bowl. Team captain and Illinois defensive leader Gabs Jacas also has decided that his college career is over.
Coach Bret Bielema's defense was a major disappointment this season for the Fighting Illini, whose season didn't go the way a preseason top-15 ranking signified. The offense behind Luke Altmyer wasn't a huge issue, but the defense struggled.
Even so, Jacas has been a constant star, and he will have a bright future in the NFL.
The 6'3", 275-pounder is uber-athletic and listed as an outside linebacker. His game is getting after quarterbacks, which he did to the tune of 43 tackles and 11 sacks this year to go along with three forced fumbles. The sack total was his career-high.
During the other three years in Champaign, the Port Saint Lucie, Florida, senior had 16 sacks and was a mass-producer each year he was in college. He continued to develop and stayed true to Bielema's program, even when Ryan Walters left to be the head coach at Purdue.
Now, Jacas will head to the NFL.
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska Running Back
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If Matt Rhule is going to be successful at Nebraska, he's basically going to have to rebuild his entire offense in 2026 and try to find some playmakers.
There's uncertainly about Dylan Raiola's future as a Cornhusker, but that will be determined at a later date. Some things Rhule knows about is that he'll have to find replacements for starting center Rocco Spindler and star running back Emmett Johnson.
Johnson, especially, is going to be extremely difficult to replace, and the 'Huskers will have to begin the search in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah. The 5'11", 200-pound junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, won't play.
That means Rhule is going to have make up for 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson was one of the most productive runners in the Big Ten, despite playing for a middling offense.
He was the conference's top runner this year, and while running backs aren't valued in the NFL draft and he could slide to a second-day pick, Johnson's explosive play-making ability could make him highly sought-after if he has a good combine.
Runners don't have long shelf lives in the pros, so Johnson is going to head out while he's a hot name.
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion Quarterback
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Most of the buzz around the Cure Bowl between USF and Old Dominion is surrounding Byrum Brown not playing for the Bulls, but he isn't the only explosive quarterback not taking snaps.
The Monarchs will also be without their star starter, who has transformed their offense this year. Colton Joseph will be entering the transfer portal and finishing his college ball somewhere else. You can expect him to be a big-time prospect for a Power Four program.
Joseph is a 6'2", 200-pound sophomore from Newport Beach, California, and one thing that will make him such a hot commodity in the portal is the fact that he's got two seasons of eligibility remaining.
This year, he threw for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and also ran for 1,007 yards and 13 scores. He ran coach Ricky Rahne's scheme to perfection.
There has been some whispers about Rahne possibly leaving his job at Old Dominion and returning to James Franklin's new staff at Virginia Tech to be offensive coordinator. That would be odd considering he left Franklin's offensive coordinator job at Penn State to take a head coaching gig.
If that did happen, though, Joseph could wind up as the Hokies' signal-caller. Regardless, the connections between Rahne and Franklin could make that a destination. He certainly will have multiple suitors.
Lake McRee, USC Tight End
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USC coach Lincoln Riley has turned a lot of offensive players into collegiate stars, and one of the latest is tight end Lake McRee.
Now, the breakout player will take his talents to the NFL, bypassing his senior year as well as the Alamo Bowl against TCU. The 6'4", 250-pound tight end really blossomed this year as the Trojans really transitioned to a Big Ten threat in their second season in the league.
The Austin, Texas, native was the Trojans' third-leading receiver behind Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon and Ja'kobi Lane. He finished with 30 catches for 450 yards and scored four times.
In 51 career games for the Trojans, he had 97 receptions for 1,154 yards and seven touchdowns. Now, he'll head to the NFL, where he is expected to be a Day 2 pick.
With his athleticism, McRee may be able to surge up draft boards, but regardless, he has the athleticism to catch on with an NFL team and play a long time.
It may come as a bit of a surprise for McRee to head to the NFL rather than play in a bowl game, but the senior has decided he's played his final game for the Trojans.
Kam Perry, Miami (Ohio) Wide Receiver
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The MAC has experienced a difficult time keeping its top-tier talent in the conference since the transfer portal began heating up a few years ago, and that remains the case.
The member institutions just don't have the dollars to compete with the bigger programs.
One of the latest big-name stars heading out is Miami (Ohio) pass-catcher Kam Perry, who had a massive year for the RedHawks, catching 42 passes for 966 yards and six touchdowns.
Now, the 5'9", 168-pound receiver will try to play his final season (or two) elsewhere, potentially heading back closer to his Atlanta home to play in the ACC or SEC.
Perhaps Perry sees the writing on the wall with his size that it may very hard for him to eventually latch on in the NFL, so he could make a nice paycheck now with a bigger school through the transfer portal.
Perry won't play in the Arizona Bowl against Fresno State, instead focusing on where he will play his final season of eligibility. He could be a nice secondary weapon for whoever picks him up, and even though he's small in stature, he can make a huge impact.
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State Wide Receiver
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There aren't many bigger impact playmakers int he passing game with the potential of Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, and the next time we will get to see him play will be on the NFL team that drafts him.
Unfortunately, while he was a superstar when he was on the field, we never got to see him produce on the biggest stage for the Sun Devils.
Last year, Tyson was injured just before the College Football Playoff, denying Sam Leavitt his top target in the season's biggest game—a narrow loss to Texas. This year, Tyson battled injuries again, and Leavitt was lost for the year, ending Arizona State's playoff hopes.
Now, neither will play for coach Kenny Dillingham in 2026.
Tyson is off to the NFL, and Leavitt is still hurt but will enter the transfer portal and make big money playing for another program next year.
The pass-catcher is probably the top receiver on the NFL draft board, or at least, he'll be one of the biggest names in the draft, which is why the 6'2", 200-pound Texas native won't be playing his final season in college ball.
This year, he finished with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns without playing in a full slate of games. He's going to be a star on the next level.
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