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UPDATE 8:05 p.m. Joseph Ngata can’t go for Clemson
Clemson players unavailable for tonight's game: DE Jack Brissey, DE Justin Foster, CB Jack McCall, WR Joseph Ngata, TE Luke Price, WR Justyn Ross, DE Xavier Thomas, LB Jake Venables and DT Tré Williams.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 1, 2021
UPDATE 8:05 p.m. Master Teague is out for Ohio State
Ohio State status report: Buckeyes will be without LG Harry Miller, RB Master Teague and DEs Zach Harrison and Tyler Friday.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) January 1, 2021
Opting out of college football bowl games has become a trend over the last few years and when you combine that with a pandemic, you’ll see it more than ever. We scoured the internet to find the latest information on which players have opted out of their bowl game for whatever reason as well as injury updates on players who are banged up and might be unable to go.
The College Football Playoff is a whole lot different than any type of bowl game because players can make a name for themselves on a national stage, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any opt outs for either Clemson Tigers or Ohio State Buckeyes as we get closer to kickoff for the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Clemson roster update
Injury
The Tigers have a number of players listed as out indefinitely, but there are a few question marks heading into the Sugar Bowl. Wide receivers Ty Herbstreit and Drew Swinney are questionable for this game for undisclosed reasons. Defensive end Xavier Thomas is questionable for an undisclosed injury as well, and linebacker Jake Venables is questionable with an arm injury.
Ohio State roster update
Injury
Ohio State has gone through a bit of COVID-19 breakout late in the season and was shorthanded in the Big Ten Championship win over the Northwestern Wildcats. The Big Ten did the Buckeyes another favor by limiting the 21-day sit down of a player testing positive down to 17 days. Here’s a list of players questionable for undisclosed ailments:
Linebackers Baron Browning, Tommy Eichenberg and Ben Schmiesing, running back Steele Chambers, punter Drue Chrisman, wide receivers Chris Olave, Gee Scott Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mookie Cooper, defensive linemen Aaron Cox, Tyler Friday and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, safeties Marcus Hooker and Bryson Shaw, offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and Ryan Smith, quarterback Jagger LaRoe, cornerback Lloyd McFarquhar, and tight ends Corey Rau and Joe Royer.
Quarterback Justin Fields is listed as probable as he is battling through a sprained thumb injury.