Sugar Bowl Opt-Outs and Injury Report: Top Texas and Washington players not playing in bowl game

Modified Jan 02, 2024 08:59 GMT

2023 Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma State v Texas — Sugar Bowl Opt-Outs and Injury Report

The Texas Longhorns are set to face the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl, which doubles as the College Football Playoff semifinals, on Monday at 8:45 p.m. ET.

Texas (12-1) won the Big 12 with a 49-21 win over Oklahoma State to punch its ticket to the CFP. Washington (13-0) beat the Oregon Ducks 34-31 to win the Pac-12 and earn a CFP spot.

Neither team has any opt-outs but does have players in the transfer portal and dealing with injuries.

Texas Sugar Bowl absentees

The Texas Longhorns enter the Sugar Bowl relatively healthy but will be without backup quarterback Maalik Murphy, who entered the transfer portal.

Behind starter Quinn Ewers will be Arch Manning, but the former will still be at quarterback.

"I think everybody has just improved drastically, including myself," Ewers said.

"I'm able to just take what the defense gives me instead of forcing throws. I think everyone has a totally different understanding of the offense. We're a lot more comfortable within the offense...

"It's good playing those guys a year ago, but it's a different team. We both have different teams. But it's going to be a good atmosphere, and I know we're fired up to get out there and play."

The full list of Texas Longhorns players not playing in the Sugar Bowl is as follows:

Isaiah Neyor, WR (transfer portal)
Larry Turner-Gooden, DB (transfer portal)
Casey Cain, WR (transfer portal)
B.J. Allen Jr., S (transfer portal)
Sawyer Goram-Welch, OL (transfer portal)
Jalen Catalon, S (transfer portal)
Xavion Brice, S (transfer portal)
Maalik Murphy, QB (transfer portal)
Kristopher Ross, EDGE (transfer portal)

Washington Sugar Bowl absentees

Like the Texas Longhorns, the Washington Huskies don't have many opt-outs.

Heading into the matchup, Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice said the team feels disrespected due to its status as an underdog and plans to use that as motivation.

"I think it's crazy," Trice said. "Just the level of disrespect we get, I can't really understand it, but it helps us because it makes us have our backs against the wall as we go into these games, ready to play even harder because we are the underdogs."

He added:

"You don't take anything for granted out there. We're grateful to be in the position we're at because of the hard work we put in. We can be the underdog. We can be on top, and we'll come out with the win."

The full list of the Washington Huskies players not playing against the Longhorns is as follows: