While bowl games are celebrated postseason games that 82 teams get to participate in, a recent trend of players who opt out of their team’s bowl game to either transfer to another school or prepare for the NFL draft has undoubtedly affected the talent on the field.

The Flames have seen their fair share of players opt out. You can track all of the players transferring to and from Liberty HERE, as well as check out the Liberty depth chart for the Bahamas Bowl HERE.

Buffalo is a team that has been impacted by the transfer portal significantly less than most, currently only having three players that have entered the portal. Here are the list of the names in the portal for the Buffalo Bulls in the Bahamas Bowl:

  • Upton Bellenfant (K) – Transferred to Texas Tech
      • Bellenfant began his collegiate career at Alabama where he spent two seasons. He then transferred to Buffalo for the 2024 campaign, making 14 of his 16 field goals, while being perfect inside of 40 yards. He also made all 29 of his PATs and had 29 touchbacks on his 67 kickoffs. Bellenfant entered the portal following the conclusion of the 2024 regular season and has committed to Texas Tech. He is currently listed on Buffalo’s depth chart for the Bahamas Bowl.
  • Byron Floyd (LS) – In the transfer portal
      • Floyd has been Buffalo’s long snapper this season after transferring from Pitt where he served as the Panther’s long snapper for two seasons. He is currently in the portal but is currently listed on Buffalo’s depth chart for the Bahamas Bowl.
  • Javien Cuff (WR) – In the transfer portal
      • Cuff is currently in the transfer portal. He missed the 2023 season due to an injury and played in three games in 2022 with no receptions. This season, Cuff has had a larger impact on the field, recording 10 receptions for 127 yards and 1 touchdown. He is currently listed on Buffalo’s depth chart for the Bahamas Bowl as a second-string wide receiver.

The three players in the portal for Buffalo are all currently listed on the depth chart. So, the Bulls could have their full complement of players.

To recap Liberty’s opt-outs, here is who is not expected to play in the game for the Flames:

  • QB Kaidon Salter
  • RB Quinton Cooley
  • RB James Jointer
  • RB Victor Venn
  • WR Kylen Austin
  • WR Markel Fortenberry
  • WR Cesar Carrasco
  • OL Jordan White
  • OL Xavior Gray
  • OL Jordan Hall
  • OL Izaiah Taylor
  • DL Eliyt Nairne
  • DL Rod Daniels
  • DL Marius Landsfeld
  • LB Jerome Jolly
  • CB Domnick Hill
  • DB Marquis Bell
  • S Jabin Ford
  • K Nick Brown