Marshall Declines Independence Bowl Participation

The college football bowl season is underway with several notable matchups, including No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State. Meanwhile, Marshall has withdrawn from the Independence Bowl due to a significant player exodus following the departure of head coach Charles Huff, leading to potential opportunities for 5-7 teams like Cincinnati and Wisconsin to step in. As bowl games approach, many players across various teams are opting out to prepare for the NFL draft or enter the transfer portal, causing uncertainty for betting lines and team preparations. Arizona State, which has claimed the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, is also facing its own transfer portal challenges with 10 players having entered since the portal opened. Head coach Kenny Dillingham is optimistic about attracting new talent while emphasizing the need for his current players to stay focused amid the distractions. The dynamic nature of player movement is reshaping team rosters and competitive balance as the season concludes.