The Cure Bowl brings top teams from the MAC and Sun Belt together once again. This year, the Miami RedHawks and Appalachian State Mountaineers will battle from Orlando, Florida, in a highly anticipated matchup. In the era of the transfer portal, however, just how many of the top-tier players should we expect to be missing from this matchup?
Top Miami (OH), Appalachian State Players Not Playing the Cure Bowl
Thanks to the College Football Network Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know just who is set to sit out the contest between Miami (OH) and Appalachian State easily enough.
For the full game preview and prediction: Cure Bowl Prediction: Miami (OH) vs. Appalachian State Odds, Spread, DFS Picks, and More
Miami (OH) Players To Miss the Cure Bowl
It was a tough end to the season for the Miami RedHawks, and yet they persevered. Winning the MAC without their starting quarterback Brett Gabbert, the RedHawks must pull another proverbial rabbit out of their hats if they want to win the Cure Bowl.
This time, they’ll be without both starting quarterbacks as Gabbert is still injured and Aveon Smith has hit the transfer portal. They did, however, get a pick-me-up when Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson withdrew his name from the transfer portal, though within circumstances like this, his status will remain unknown until he’s on the field on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the RedHawks will be without three secondary players: Jeremiah Caldwell, Mason Moore, and Daisjaun Mercer. Fortunately, neither of that trio of players were vital contributors in 2023 and shouldn’t have a large effect on the Cure Bowl.
Miami (OH) players expected to miss Cure Bowl:
- Jeremiah Caldwell, CB (transfer portal)
- Graham Nicholson, K (transfer portal) / withdrew his name, status unknown
- Mason Moore, DB (transfer portal)
- Daisjaun Mercer, S (transfer portal)
- Aveon Smith, QB (transfer portal)
Appalachian State Players To Miss the Cure Bowl
It will be an interesting offensive day for the App State Mountaineers in the Cure Bowl. Without CB-to-WR convert Milan Tucker and Dashaun Davis as pass-catchers and Nate Noel at running back, the Mountaineers are down three playmakers.
Noel led the team in attempts and yards while scoring five touchdowns on the ground. Tucker and Davis combined for four touchdowns and over 600 yards through the air.
App State’s defensive portal losses didn’t play many snaps at all in 2023, while center Seth Williams appeared in just two games. Despite nine total portal departures expected to be absent for App State, their biggest concern should be their running game, an issue circumvented by Joey Aguilar’s throwing ability.
Appalachian State players expected to miss Cure Bowl:
- Deshawn McKnight, DL (transfer portal)
- Nate Noel, RB (transfer portal)
- Milan Tucker, WR (transfer portal)
- Seth Williams, iOL (transfer portal)
- James Edwards, CB (transfer portal)
- Donovan Spellman, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Dashaun Davis, WR (transfer portal)
- Coen Sutton, WR (transfer portal)
- Nathan Kibambe, EDGE (transfer portal)
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!