The Music City Bowl kicks off on Saturday at 2 pm EST with the Auburn Tigers facing the Maryland Terrapins. Each team had to fight to get into a bowl game with the Tigers finishing 6-6 and the Terrapins having a 7-5 record. One challenge each team will face is they won’t have a good portion of their players on the field.
Top Maryland and Auburn Players Not Playing in the Music City Bowl
Using the College Football Network Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, numerous players will not feature in the Peach Bowl for either Ole Miss or Penn State. Each team will be seeing more than 10 of their players opting out of the game. Most are hitting the transfer portal, with one player opting out to decide on his future.
Here is a look at the top players not participating in the game.
Maryland Players To Miss the Music City Bowl
Taulia Tagovailoa, QB Maryland
Maryland’s star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has led the Terrapins’ offense for four seasons. Tagovailoa has thrown for over 11,000 yards and 77 scores, with 13 more touchdowns on the ground in his college career. This season, he finished with 3,377 yards and 25 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Tagovailoa made the decision to opt out of the game as he decided on his future. It’s unclear whether he will enter the transfer portal, declare for the draft, or stay at Maryland.
Jaishawn Barham, LB Maryland
Jaishawn Barham has been one of Maryland’s top defensive players over the last two seasons. After a stellar freshman year in 2022, he continued his success this year with 37 total tackles, three sacks, one pass deflection, and his first career interception.
MORE: College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Barham won’t be playing in the game as he has entered the transfer portal. He will be attending Michigan starting next season.
Corey Dyches, TE Maryland
Junior tight end Corey Dyches was one of the leading receivers for the Terrapins this season racking up 491 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Dyches has produced 1,193 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons.
Maryland will be without their starting tight end as he will be opting out of the game. He entered the transfer portal earlier in the month.
Maryland Players Expected to Miss the Music City Bowl
- Antwain Littleton II, RB (transfer portal)
- Ramon Brown, RB (transfer portal)
- Tyrese Chambers, WR (transfer portal)
- Corey Dyches, TE (transfer portal)
- Rico Walker, TE (transfer portal)
- Ja’Kavion Nonar, OT (transfer portal)
- Riyad Wilmot, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Jaishawn Barham, LB (transfer portal)
- Kobi Thomas, LB (transfer portal)
- Tamarcus Cooley, CB (transfer portal)
- Gavin Gibson, CB (transfer portal)
- Corey Coley Jr., CB (transfer portal)
- Avantae Williams, S (transfer portal)
Auburn Players To Miss the Music City Bowl
Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR Auburn
Ja’Varrius Johnson wasn’t showcased as much in the passing game with Auburn being a run-heavy team, but he was one of their best pass catchers. Johnson recorded 19 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Auburn will not have Johnson playing as he opted out of the bowl game. Two weeks ago, he announced that he was entering the transfer portal.
Robby Ashford, QB Auburn
Robby Ashford showed some promise his freshman year in 2022 with 2,323 total yards of offense with 14 touchdowns. This season, he lost his job to Payton Thorne, but still saw playing time on the field. He put up 362 total yards and seven touchdowns on the year.
The Tigers saw Ashford hitting the transfer portal just two weeks ago. A potential landing spot for him could be South Carolina.
Auburn Players Expected To Miss the Music City Bowl
- Robby Ashford, QB (transfer portal)
- Omari Kelly, WR (transfer portal)
- Jyaire Shorter, WR (transfer portal)
- Malcolm Johnson Jr., WR (transfer portal)
- Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR (transfer portal)
- Tyler Fromm, TE (transfer portal)
- Stephen Sings, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Stephen Johnson, DL (transfer portal)
- Enyce Sledge, DL (transfer portal)
- Wilky Denaud, DL (transfer portal)
- Tony Hunley Jr., CB (transfer portal)
- Austin Ausberry, CB (transfer portal)
- Marquise Gilbert, S (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!