The Toledo Rockets and the Wyoming Cowboys play each other in this year’s Barstool Arizona Bowl. Both teams had excellent 2023 seasons, and the game will bring about the end of an era in Laramie.
There will also be some star players unavailable for the Barstool Arizona Bowl, impacting Toledo significantly.
Top Toledo, Wyoming Players Not Playing in Barstool Arizona Bowl
According to the College Football Network Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, the transfer portal has taken a handful of players from both teams, including a starting quarterback.
The Barstool Arizona Bowl occurs on Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ.
MORE: 2024 Transfer Portal Team Rankings
The bowl game is unique because all the money spent in Arizona Stadium is given to charities in the Tucson area.
Eric Rhodes, the Vice President of Communications for the Barstool Arizona Bowl, told 13 News, “Any dollar that comes into us from the tailgate, from the bowl bash, from ticket sales to anything inside the stadium is going right back into southern Arizona.”
Toledo Players To Miss the Barstool Arizona Bowl
Toledo finished the season 11-2, going undefeated in the MAC. However, they will be without two-star offensive players for the Barstool Arizona Bowl.
First, QB Dequan Finn entered the transfer portal, opting to move to Baylor. Finn has been outstanding in 2023 and was named MAC MVP. He was the catalyst for the Rockets’ success. His decision to opt out of the bowl game means backup QB Tucker Gleason will take over duties under center. In the three games he played in 2023 in relief of Finn, Gleason threw for 199 yards and four touchdowns.
Second, Toledo was dealt a massive blow when star running back Peny Boone entered the transfer portal on Dec. 26. Boone was Offensive Player of the Year in the MAC, rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns.
As such, Toledo HC Jason Candle has plenty to overcome in the Barstool Arizona Bowl and may need to switch up the game plan. While the team won’t abandon their rushing-heavy attack, Finn was a dual-threat QB, and Gleason doesn’t carry the same dynamism in the running game.
List of Toledo Players Expected To Miss the Barstool Arizona Bowl
- Jaret Frantz, WR (transfer portal)
- Vinny Sciury, iOL (transfer portal)
- Dequan Finn, QB (transfer portal)
- Micah Kelly, RB (transfer portal)
- Jonathon Batzke, P (transfer portal)
- Peny Boone, RB (transfer portal)
Wyoming Players To Miss the Barstool Arizona Bowl
The Barstool Arizona Bowl will be the end of an era for Wyoming. The Bowl game will be the last for head coach Craig Bohl, who will be retiring at its finale. Wyoming will enter the game with less talent than their counterparts, but expect them to make up for it with passion and determination.
While Wyoming has had a few players enter the portal, they haven’t been as severely impacted as Toledo. Cornerback Kolbey Turner is the only starter unavailable for Wyoming in the Barstool Arizona Bowl.
QB Andrew Peasley is available and will play his last game for Wyoming. RB Harrison Waylee, who rushed for over 800 yards in 2023, will also be available.
The biggest loss for Wyoming comes on the coaching side. Offensive coordinator Polasek has left the program to take up the head coaching job at North Dakota State.
List of Wyoming Players Expected To Miss the Barstool Arizona Bowl
- Keelan Cox, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Kolbey Taylor, CB (transfer portal)
- D.Q. James, RB (transfer portal)
- Brady Hultman, LB (transfer portal)
- Chase Locke, WR (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!