[Austroturf]

Skeleton crew for the bowl game. Love, Little, Irwin, Smith, Herbig, Jackson, Murphy all out. Toohill, Branch, and Pryts probable. No mention of Ben Edwards and Curtis Robinson. Wilson starting in Irwin's place, so we still intend to redshirt Wedington.

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...3806795776

This list, in my view, is also an indication of how important this game is to Shaw.  Looking forward, he probably does not want to risk the health of Little, Herbig, Smith and Jackson (and probably a few others) for a Sun Bowl victory that will mean nothing when the 2019 season begins (assuming Herbig and Smith return).  Yes, the post-season is becoming a farce of insignificant contests overshadowed by the fates of four "important" teams.  The Washington-Ohio State game may be a wonderful contest, but it is all an exercise in consolation prizes with the CFP dominating the real interest of the football world.  Expand to 8, even 16 if necessary, but the post-season has devolved into a series of exhibition match-ups that are dwindling in significance.  If you have already made your mark on college football (McCaffrey, Love), you sit out; if you see the game as a chance to make a final statement, you play (Solomon Thomas).  It is no longer a given that players participate until the end (see Bosa at OSU).  And regarding Love, I back him up 100%: he came back because of unfinished business, which in his view was a Pac-12 championship and, at least, a Rose Bowl appearance.  The Sun Bowl was not part of that unfinished business.  He's already played in one and helped us win in 2016.

[Austroturf]

Skeleton crew for the bowl game. Love, Little, Irwin, Smith, Herbig, Jackson, Murphy all out. Toohill, Branch, and Pryts probable. No mention of Ben Edwards and Curtis Robinson. Wilson starting in Irwin's place, so we still intend to redshirt Wedington.

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...3806795776

This list, in my view, is also an indication of how important this game is to Shaw.  Looking forward, he probably does not want to risk the health of Little, Herbig, Smith and Jackson (and probably a few others) for a Sun Bowl victory that will mean nothing when the 2019 season begins (assuming Herbig and Smith return).  Yes, the post-season is becoming a farce of insignificant contests overshadowed by the fates of four "important" teams.  The Washington-Ohio State game may be a wonderful contest, but it is all an exercise in consolation prizes with the CFP dominating the real interest of the football world.  Expand to 8, even 16 if necessary, but the post-season has devolved into a series of exhibition match-ups that are dwindling in significance.  If you have already made your mark on college football (McCaffrey, Love), you sit out; if you see the game as a chance to make a final statement, you play (Solomon Thomas).  It is no longer a given that players participate until the end (see Bosa at OSU).  And regarding Love, I back him up 100%: he came back because of unfinished business, which in his view was a Pac-12 championship and, at least, a Rose Bowl appearance.  The Sun Bowl was not part of that unfinished business.  He's already played in one and helped us win in 2016.