Part 2/7:

As we near the end of the semester for many universities, players are increasingly negotiating their futures, either to stay with their current teams or to seek opportunities elsewhere. Reports indicate that some players are already in discussions with other schools but are being discouraged from playing in bowl games. There's an understandable concern among players about the risk of injury, especially those with professional prospects.

This could explain why players might opt out of participating in bowl games, which are losing their appeal as they are now seen as less consequential compared to regular-season games. With fans tuning in for the teams rather than specific players, the tradition of bowl games is at risk of being overshadowed by the politics of player transfers.