Insider notes on CFB bowl opt-out trends: Why fewer players will skip 2024 games, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter

At one time, it was just projected early draft picks who opted out of bowl games to prepare for their career at the next level and avoid injuries.

Over the past few years, everyone from early first-round picks to undrafted players have refused to participate in bowl games in anticipation of the NFL Combine and pro-day workouts. That trend may quickly change this month.

College players used to opt out of bowl games in pursuit of NFL

After several significant injuries to highly-graded prospects like Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith and Michigan tight end Jake Butt, Day 2 prospects started opting out of non-title bowl games to avoid injuries.

Jaylon Smith - Source: Imagn

Last year, many players chose not to participate in bowl games. Many started preparing for the draft, while others entered the transfer portal. And it was not just early-round prospects who skipped the December festivities.

While quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye, the first three selections in the draft, all skipped their school’s bowl games, so did players who had no chance of jumping into the top three rounds of the draft.

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (fifth-round pick), quarterback Joe Milton III (sixth-round pick), and quarterback Sam Hartman (undrafted) all skipped out on their school’s bowl games to prepare for the draft. Former Kansas State receiver Phillip Brooks opted out of the Pop Tarts Bowl against North Carolina State. He did not receive an invitation to the combine and went undrafted.

The trend will likely change this year once the bowl games get underway, and there is one main reason why: NIL deals.

Why fewer players will skip 2024 bowl games

College football and league insiders I’ve spoken to all told me that if players opt out of bowl games this year, many won’t receive final payment from the NIL deals signed with their respective schools.

As explained to me, many of the NIL contracts signed have a final payment date in late December. Many of the final payment dates are, in fact, December 31, 2024.

The payments made to those players come from the collective, the pool of money used by each school to pay the NIL deals, and they get progressively higher each month as the season nears completion.

Opting out of a bowl game, which for many players will only be the second game in the month of December, could cost them a paycheck of $25,000 to $50,000, depending on their deal.

Shedeur Sanders - Source: Imagn

Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter NIL influence

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter of Colorado have already announced they are committed to playing in the Buffaloes’ bowl game later this month. And while “it’s a team thing”, as Sanders told the press, it’s also very likely a big payday for the pair, both of whom will be very early picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

And while there will be players who skip their school’s bowl game and forfeit the final NIL check in favor of potential NFL riches, the expectations are that the number who choose to do as much will be significantly fewer this year than in the past.