[qwerty49]

I think you're underestimating the draw of the prospect of playing in Big Bowls . . . you know, the ones Stanford used to play in with some frequency.  That is gonzo (and ain't coming back any time soon), with unfortunate and predictable ramifications (that only make the climb back steeper).

I think that for most NFL bound players bowl games are a public relations obstacle, not a desired outcome. Look at the two tOSU wide receivers that elected not to play in the Rose Bowl. If you won't be back next year, no reason to play. There are perhaps a few guys that would come back to a school that was close but didn't make it to the CFP. However, as I said before, those are the guys who actually "need" to come back. The "elite" players are gone to the NFL. Too much risk. And the definition of "elite" gets looser every year.

41 Michigan transfers played elsewhere last year. 16 left after 2020. Here’s the source:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about...is-season/

I assume this count does not include guys who went to the NFL?

Four OSU players skipping the Rose Bowl to prepare for the draft

Ohio State junior wide receiver Garrett Wilson announced Monday that he will forgo his senior season of eligibility and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson will also opt out of Saturday's Rose Bowl vs. Utah.

...
Additionally, Ryan Day confirmed to reporters on Monday that fellow wideout Chris Olave, defensive lineman Haskell Garrett and offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere have opted out of the bowl to focus on the draft

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...l-vs-utah/

It's interesting how Covid and NIL have joined the perfect storm of events and circumstances (including TV and NFL money) that IMO will be the demise of "big-time" college football and basketball as we know it.

I'm one of those old cranky guys who doesn't believe a 6-6 team should be playing in a bowl.  Much less two such teams playing each other.  But someone discovered you could make a lot of money within that framework so now we have "bowl inflation."

And yeah, I understand why they're called "revenue sports" but I just wish a reasonable definition of "amateur" vs "professional" could be developed, supported and enforced with some consistency.

And BTW, I recently spoke with a close friend who is a knowledgeable sports fan and has ties to the Hollywood representation world, and he says the SoCal buzz over UCLA recently signing the #1-ranked WBB recruit away from us has some bearing to the feeling that Hollywood has more aura and juice in the NIL universe than Silicon Valley does.  As if we didn't have enough recruiting battles to fight.

[qwerty49]

I think you're underestimating the draw of the prospect of playing in Big Bowls . . . you know, the ones Stanford used to play in with some frequency.  That is gonzo (and ain't coming back any time soon), with unfortunate and predictable ramifications (that only make the climb back steeper).

I think that for most NFL bound players bowl games are a public relations obstacle, not a desired outcome. Look at the two tOSU wide receivers that elected not to play in the Rose Bowl. If you won't be back next year, no reason to play. There are perhaps a few guys that would come back to a school that was close but didn't make it to the CFP. However, as I said before, those are the guys who actually "need" to come back. The "elite" players are gone to the NFL. Too much risk. And the definition of "elite" gets looser every year.

41 Michigan transfers played elsewhere last year. 16 left after 2020. Here’s the source:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about...is-season/

I assume this count does not include guys who went to the NFL?

Four OSU players skipping the Rose Bowl to prepare for the draft

Ohio State junior wide receiver Garrett Wilson announced Monday that he will forgo his senior season of eligibility and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson will also opt out of Saturday's Rose Bowl vs. Utah.

...
Additionally, Ryan Day confirmed to reporters on Monday that fellow wideout Chris Olave, defensive lineman Haskell Garrett and offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere have opted out of the bowl to focus on the draft

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...l-vs-utah/

It's interesting how Covid and NIL have joined the perfect storm of events and circumstances (including TV and NFL money) that IMO will be the demise of "big-time" college football and basketball as we know it.

I'm one of those old cranky guys who doesn't believe a 6-6 team should be playing in a bowl.  Much less two such teams playing each other.  But someone discovered you could make a lot of money within that framework so now we have "bowl inflation."

And yeah, I understand why they're called "revenue sports" but I just wish a reasonable definition of "amateur" vs "professional" could be developed, supported and enforced with some consistency.

And BTW, I recently spoke with a close friend who is a knowledgeable sports fan and has ties to the Hollywood representation world, and he says the SoCal buzz over UCLA recently signing the #1-ranked WBB recruit away from us has some bearing to the feeling that Hollywood has more aura and juice in the NIL universe than Silicon Valley does.  As if we didn't have enough recruiting battles to fight.