List Of Teams Opting Out Of the Bowl Season

December 21, 2020 by Staff

Here's a list of teams that have announced they are opting out of the bowl season:
Arizona State
Boise State
Boston College
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Kansas State
Louisville
Michigan State
Minnesota
Penn State
Pittsburgh
San Diego State
SMU
Stanford
UCLA
USC
Utah
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Washington
Washington State

Other circumstances are also diluted the field.

LSU had previously given itself a one-year postseason ban amid an NCAA investigation. Covid issues at SMU (listed above) forced the Mustangs to bow out of the Frisco Bowl after already accepting the bid.  Subsequently, that bowl was canceled. UTSA, which was suppose to be SMU's opponent, was moved to the Servpro First Responder Bowl. 

A different issue was avoided on Saturday night. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, and Clemson's Dabo Swinney, had both floated the notion that their schools would opt out if families wouldn't be allowed to attend the semifinal game. As a result, one semifinal venue was switched from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

SEE: Bowl Schedule