Over the past few years, the college football news cycle has been unending. That remains true in 2024.
With the transfer portal opening up, there's movement taking place all over the country. And with Conference Championship Week in the rearview mirror, the same can be said for the coaching carousel.
The player and coach movement can be hard to keep track of at times.
Below, you will find a running log of the all-important news for each individual bowl game. I will continuously update this file as more news comes in regarding transfers, injuries and opt-outs for players with at least 50 snaps this season, so make sure you periodically check back if you want to double-check any game information before placing a bet.
Keep in mind players in the portal can still play in their bowl games. This file will include injuries, opt-outs, potential opt-outs, coaching changes and transfer portal updates.
Many of the potential opt-outs will play, but they're worth monitoring as they declare their NFL aspirations.
For convenience, the bowls are listed in chronological order below.
2024 College Football Roster News Tracker
First Responder Bowl: North Texas vs. Texas State
Texas State Transfer Portal
- Starting RB Ismail Mahdi (committed to Arizona; not on depth chart)
- Starting RT Alex Harkey (committed to Oregon; not on depth chart)
- Starting CB Josh Eaton (committed to Michigan State; not on depth chart)
- Starting DT Terry Webb (375 snaps; on depth chart)
- Starting NT Tavian Coleman (355 snaps; on depth chatt)
- DT Dominique Ratcliff (318 snaps; not on depth chart)
- DE Ben Bell (opted out earlier in season)
- Backup QB RJ Martinez
Texas State Potential Opt-Out
- LG Nash Jones (on depth chart)
Starting TE Konner Fox didn’t play in the finale, but is on depth chart. DE Steven Parker (367 snaps) missed the final three games and is not on depth chart.
Brad Jackson could get some snaps at quarterback for the Bobcats, but I'm not positive on distribution. The line suggests plenty of Jordan McCloud.
North Texas Transfer Portal
- Starting QB Chandler Morris (committed to Virginia)
- Starting WR DT Sheffield (committed to Rutgers)
- Starting TE Oscar Hammond (committed to Oregon State)
- Starting C Tyler Mercer (committed to Kansas)
- LG Leke Asenuga (585 snaps; been injured)
- WR Nick Rempert (257 snaps)
- RT MaKyi Lee (246 snaps)
- S Jayven Anderson (181 snaps)
- CB Kerry Williams (113 snaps)
- WR Jeremiah Aaron (97 snaps)
- RB Ikaika Ragsdale (58 snaps; injured Week 2)
- RB Shane Porter (listed on bowl depth chart)
Without Morris, the Mean Green will turn to true freshman Drew Mestemaker, who came in for Morris as the backup this season.
North Texas Injuries
Jett Duncan and Leke Asenuga suffered late-season injuries on the interior offensive line, but Duncan is back on the depth chart as the starting C. UNT also lost starting OT Larry Moore midway through the season. Starting TE Oscar Hammond didn’t play the finale and entered the portal. True freshman Brandon Young is listed as the starting TE on the depth chart. Another true freshman will start at one of the wide receiver positions as well (and left tackle).
Duke's Mayo Bowl: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech
Minnesota Transfer Portal
- Starting RT Phillip Daniels (signed with Ohio State; will not play)
- RB Jordan Nubin (60 snaps)
Minnesota Opt-Outs
- WR Daniel Jackson
- RB Marcus Major (216 snaps)
- LT Aireontae Ersery
- LG Tyler Cooper
- LB Cody Lindenberg
Potential Minnesota Opt-Outs
- DE Danny Stiggow
- DE Jah Joyner
- CB Justin Walley (declared for NFL Draft)
OT Quinn Carroll said he will play in a bowl and I'd expect him at LT, while S Aidan Gousby missed the final three games. Minnesota could be down eight or nine starters, including three along the offensive line.
Virginia Tech Transfer Portal
- Starting LT Xavier Chaplin (signed with Auburn)
- Starting C Braelin Moore (likely to sign with LSU)
- Starting CB Mansoor Delane (committed to LSU)
- Starting S Mose Phillips (signed with Missouri)
- LB Sam Brumfield (378 snaps)
- LB Keli Lawson (276 snaps; committed to UCF)
- RB Malachi Thomas (168 snaps)
- DE C.J. McCray (64 snaps)
- S Jalen Stroman (hurt all year)
Virginia Tech Opt-Outs
- RB Bhayshul Tuten
- DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland
- DT Aeneas Peebles
- WR Da’Quan Felton
- WR Jaylin Lane
- CB Dorian Strong
- RG Kaden Moore
- SS Keonta Jenkins
DT Wilfried Pene also wasn't spotted at a recent practice. Virginia Tech could be down 14 starters.
Keep an eye on Virginia Tech's QB situation, as both QB1 Kyron Drones and QB2 Collin Schlee ended the year injured. As of Dec. 13, Drones is not expected to play, according to head coach Brent Pry. It will either be Schlee or Pop Watson at QB. I'd guess Watson.
Shawn Quinn will serve as DC for the bowl.
Pry said players in the portal could potentially play, but I'm not expecting many.
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Liberty
Does Liberty care? Chadwell quote on caring.
Liberty Transfer Portal
- Starting QB Kaidon Salter (signed with Colorado)
- Starting LG Jordan White (committed to Vanderbilt)
- Starting RT Xavior Gray (committed to Northwestern)
- Starting DL Bryce Dixon
- LT Jordan Hall (374 snaps)
- DL Eliyt Nairne (298 snaps; committed to Tulane)
Liberty Opt Outs
- Starting RB Quinton Cooley
- Starting LB Jerome Jolly Jr.
Former App State transfer Ryan Burger will get the start at quarterback. Head coach Jamey Chadwell also stated that players in the portal won't play in the bowl game.
Liberty Injuries
Starting S Brylan Green (STAR position) and backup LB Aidan Vaughan (82 snaps) are not expected to play due to injury. Slot CB Christian Bodnar (hurt in Week 7) is not on the bowl depth chart.
Starting FS Quinton Reese and starting TE Bentley Hanshaw didn’t play in the finale, but both are on the bowl depth chart.
RB Billy Lucas is dealing with an injury, but is still expected to play, although Juju Gray might get plenty of looks in addition to Caden Williams and Vaughn Blue.
See below for the projected starting offensive line for the Flames, which will still have plenty of experience despite missing three key contributors with the biggest question coming at right tackle with a freshman starter.
- LT Jack Tucker (535 snaps)
- LG John Paul Flores (331 snaps)
- C Aaron Fennimore (768 snaps)
- RG Harrison Hayes (359 snaps)
- RT Austin Anderson (156 snaps)
Buffalo Transfer Portal
- K Upton Bellenfant (committed to Texas Tech; still on depth chart)
- WR Javien Cuff (210 snaps)
Buffalo Injuries
Starting CB Marquis Cooper didn’t play in the finale, but is on bowl depth chart.
The Buffalo depth chart for its bowl game remains unchanged from its season finale.
