PHILADELPHIA– I know it’s the holiday season but there are just too many bowl games out there.
And unless your team is playing in the college football playoff semi-finals, there’s a good chance Power 5 teams will be without any players who have NFL ambitions.
There have been more games with second and third team quarterbacks taking snaps from center.
But last night’s Syracuse-South Florida Boca Rotan Bowl takes the cake.
The Orange have been in disarray ever since the firing of coach Dino Babers. The Cuse had its offensive coordinator opt not to coach. It’s top two quarterbacks– Garrett Shrader and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson– were out with injuries and multiple players hit the transfer portal leaving the Orange to scramble. Braden Davis was third string, but the Cuse decided to go in a completely different direction– starting Dan Vallari, a tight end who previously played quarterback in Michigan.
It was a mistake.
South Florida cruised 45-0.
The South Florida defense rose up, swarming the Cuse from the beginning forcing four punts (including three three-and- outs) and three turnovers-including a pair of scoop-and-score touchdowns– in the first half as they limited the Orange to 91 first half (including minus 15 yards rushing), pitching USF’s first, first half shutout since 2019. Syracuse finished with 159 yards, 10 punts and just nine first downs (going 1-for-17 in third down situations.
Sadly, as bad as this is, the worst is yet to come.
When 13-0 Florida State plays Georgia in the Orange Bowl in a New Years Six game, the Seminoles will be without at least 15 players on both sides of the ball., including seven All ACC players. FSU’s most noticeable absence is quarterback Jordan Travis, who missed the last two games of the season after suffering a devastating leg injury that knocked the Noles out of the national playoff picture.
Seven players have opted out to prep for the NFL draft while a number of others have entered the portal.
FSU will be without each of its top receivers– Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson and Jaheim Bell– all who declared for the draft. Jumbo tight end Markeston Douglas entered the portal, which means the Noles will have just two wide outs or tight end that have at least 15 catches on the season. The skill position attrition doesn’t stop there. Leading rusher Treu Benson who led the Noles with 905 yards and 14 TDs, declared for the draft and redshirt freshman Rodney Hill entered he portal.
FSU coach Mike Norvell is out to his third string quarterback after backup Tate Rodemaker, who started the season finale against Florida, announced he was entering the portal as did redshirt freshman AJ Duffy. Norvell only has one healthy scholarship player– freshman Brock Glenn, who got the start against Louisville in the ACC title game and finished with 8 completions in 21 attempts for 55 yards during a punchless victory over the Cards.
Florida State will also be missing some big names on its outstanding defense as well. Star edger Jared Verse, who had an impressive nine sacks and 12.5 sacks, declared for the draft and the Noles front seven took
another hit when interior lineman Fabian Lovett opted out and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer is expected to enter the portal.
I can remember when bowl games were a reward for a good season and a week- long celebration of a team’s accomplishments. But these days they are an unnecessary distraction for players who have dreams of moving out and want to protect their bodies from injuries in an extra game that might prevent them from playing on Sundays.
