The Bahamas Bowl is the final non-College Football Playoff bowl of the season, and an 8-4 Buffalo Bulls team is looking to cap off a fine season against an 8-3 Liberty Flames team who struggled to match the success of 2023 this season.
Between injuries, transfer portal entrants, and NFL Draft declarations, there will be several Buffalo and Liberty players not playing in the Bahamas Bowl.
Top Buffalo Players Not Playing in Bahamas Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Bulls won’t be in action in the Bahamas Bowl.
- Javien Cuff, WR (transfer portal)
There are currently just three Bulls in the transfer portal, but there’s a strong chance two of those won’t be among the players not playing in the Bahamas Bowl. Long snapper Byron Floyd and kicker Upton Bellenfant (committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders) are both on the Buffalo depth chart for this game.
There isn’t a significant group of players on the Buffalo injury report either after more than a month without a game. The Bulls were without starting cornerback Marquis Cooper against the Kent State Golden Flashes to finish the season, but he is back on the Bahamas Bowl depth chart.
Top Liberty Players Not Playing in Bahamas Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Flames won’t be in action in the Bahamas Bowl.
- Quinton Cooley, RB (opt-out)
- Victor Venn, RB (opt-out)
- Cesar Carrasco, WR (opt-out)
- Jordan Hall, OL (opt-out)
- Jerome Jolly, LB (opt-out)
- Nick Brown, K (opt-out)
- Dominick Hill, CB (transfer portal)
- Marquis Bell, CB (transfer portal)
- Izaiah Taylor, OT (transfer portal)
- Eliyt Nairne, DL (transfer portal)
- Rod Daniels, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Jabin Ford, S (transfer portal)
- Jason Duclona, CB (transfer portal)
- Markel Fortenberry, WR (transfer portal)
- Marius Landsfeld, DL (transfer portal)
- Kylen Austin, WR (transfer portal)
- Jordan White, iOL (transfer portal)
- Bryce Dixon, DL (transfer portal)
- James Jointer Jr., RB (transfer portal)
- Kaidon Salter, QB (transfer portal)
- Xavior Gray, OT (transfer portal)
It’s a far different story for the Flames, as more than a handful of Liberty players not playing in the Bahamas Bowl. Some of their biggest names entered the portal at the end of the season, led by starting quarterback Salter, who has transferred to the Colorado Buffaloes to replace Shedeur Sanders. The star quarterback accounted for 23 touchdowns this fall.
MORE: 2025 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker
Compounding difficulties for the Flames in the Bahamas, backup quarterback Ryan Burger (just seven pass attempts this season) will play behind a makeshift offensive line after starting linemen White and Gray transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores and Northwestern Wildcats, respectively.
Tight end Bentley Hanshaw is on the depth chart with an “OR” designation after missing the regular season finale.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
