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, including starting defensive back Preston Hodge, and backup quarterback Johnathan Bennett. You can track all of the players transferring to and from Liberty HERE.

The Ducks currently have 13 total players who are choosing to opt-out from the Fiesta Bowl, nine of these players are transferring to other schools while four of them are preparing for future NFL careers by focusing on the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Here are the list of opt-outs for the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl:

  • Troy Franklin (WR) – NFL Draft
      • Bo Nix and the Ducks must play without their top passing option in the Fiesta Bowl. Franklin led Oregon in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns this season, totaling 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. 
  • Jackson Powers-Johnson (C) – NFL Draft
      • Powers-Johnson was named First-Team All-American and won the 2023 Remington Trophy, which is awarded to the college football’s most outstanding center. 
  • Popo Aumavae (DL) – NFL Draft
      • The nose tackle recorded three sacks and 18 tackles this season and will opt out of the Fiesta Bowl. 
  • Khyree Jackson (CB) – NFL Draft
      • The Alabama transfer recorded 34 total tackles, two sacks, and 3 interceptions for the Ducks in 2023. 
  • Ty Thompson (QB) – Transferring 
      • Threw for 297 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception in six games played this season.
  • Dante Dowdell (RB) -Transferring
      • Recorded 90 yards rushing on 17 attempts and scored one touchdown in six games played. 
  • Kris Hutzen (WR) – Transferring
      • Recorded one reception for eight yards in 2023. 
  • Josh Delgado (WR) – Transferring
      • Delgado had one catch for 12 yards for the Ducks this season.
  • Ashton Cozart (WR) – Transferring
      • No stats recorded in 2023.
  • Tevita Pome’e (DL) – Transferring
      • No stats recorded in 2023.
  • Trikweze Bridges (CB) – Transferring
      • Recorded seven tackles and two pass deflections for the Ducks this season.
  • Bryan Addison (S) – Transferring
      • Addison totaled 11 tackles and one interception for the Ducks in 2023.
  • Daymon David (S) – Transferring
    • Had one tackle and one pass deflection in two game appearances in 2023.

Photo of Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin courtesy of Andy Nelson | The Register-Guard