The Intangible benefit of opting-in
When it was announced that Bryce Young and Will Anderson were going to play in the Sugar Bowl, I was not surprised one bit. For about a week, I had been thinking how unusual it was that there had been no announcement on whether the two would play. Most teams have already announced who is and is not playing in their team’s bowl. There are so many players that have opted out of their team’s bowl game in order to prepare for the NFL draft that many websites have created trackers just to keep up with who will or won’t play. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, playing in the college football playoff for Ohio State, opted out of the chance to win a national championship to focus on the NFL draft after dealing with a nagging hamstring injury all season. Some close to Smith-Njigba have said this is because he physically isn’t going to be ready for the playoff, while others have questioned his motives. What is the truth? Who knows, but this shows where we are today in college football and it’s only going to get “worse” - depending on who you ask.
There is a good financial argument to be made for skipping a bowl game and forgoing your remaining college eligibility to turn pro. The risk of injury, which has been well-documented, is completely eliminated. Every snap of every game bears an injury risk, and this is certainly something worth considering if you are projected to be a top pick. Having the chance to be selected at the top of the NFL draft is an opportunity to make life-changing money for your family. The idea that this opportunity can go up in smoke on one bad play is very plausible and worth seriously considering, even if it is statistically unlikely. I believe it is unfair to judge a player by a decision that they make when they are the one that is ultimately responsible for the consequences. It is easy to accuse a player of quitting or being selfish - but imagine for just a second what it would be like to be in their shoes. It can’t be an easy decision for anyone. Of course, there are insurance options that can cover players subject to this risk, but there is no policy on earth that can fully cover the career earnings potential lost (salary, incentives, endorsements, etc.) due to injury for someone like Tom Brady, JJ Watt, or Patrick Mahomes.
Here is the other side: the opportunity to return for a bowl game - or a senior season, for that matter - is something that carries an intangible upside that cannot be quantified. Peyton Manning, Matt Leinart, and Tim Tebow often come to mind as players that unexpectedly returned for their final season. Did that enhance their legacies? It certainly didn’t hurt them. Peyton Manning’s Heisman campaign in 1997 made him forever a legend in Knoxville. His return only elevated his legacy after a relatively-disappointing junior season that saw the Vols lose to Memphis. At a school like Alabama, DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris inserted themselves as arguably the greatest WR and RB in Alabama history by finishing their senior season with many career records and a national championship on one of the greatest teams in college football history. With recent quarterback greats such as AJ McCarron, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and now Bryce Young, how does anyone pick a “favorite” or “greatest” quarterback of the fraternity? I’ll tell you how: return to school for an unexpected senior season and win the national championship.
With the financial security afforded to players in this age of NIL deals, don’t be surprised if the highest-paid player in college football at least considers the possibility of coming back to win a national championship of his own. With financial security already obtained, is the appeal of making really big money worth putting off for a year (or risking) to a player like Bryce Young? Only he knows for sure, but we can’t assume that making oodles of money is what drives a person like Bryce Young. He’s made more money off NIL earnings at Alabama than many people make in their entire lifetime. He’s not seeking the same financial security from the NFL that so many players have over the years; he’s already financially set for life, assuming he’s managed his finances well. And, we haven’t even factored in what he could make should he return to Alabama in 2023. How much would a big booster be willing to spend to keep Bryce Young in Tuscaloosa for one more season? If Drake Maye was supposedly offered over $5 million dollars to leave North Carolina, what would Bryce Young be worth to stay for one more season? How much would it take? Don’t be surprised to see more players consider returning for their senior season. Times have definitely changed.
Lastly, one cannot underestimate the impact that Nick Saban has had on these young men. Does a Saban-coached player sound like the type of person to opt out of a bowl game and put themself ahead of their teammates? It hasn’t happened yet, and I believe that this is where a large part of the decision to play comes from. It is quite remarkable if you really think about it. It is not that Saban talked these players into playing - far from that - it is the way that Saban has molded these players and the values he has instilled in them. It kind of makes me find it hard to believe that this Alabama team won’t show up for the Sugar Bowl.
People often talk about how Alabama fails to show up in meaningless bowl games, but this has actually only happened a couple of times: 1.) In 2008 vs. Utah. This was Saban’s second year at Alabama, and he did not recruit many of those players or have a chance to develop them according to his process. They were also coming off a loss to Florida in the SEC Championship game that dashed their hopes of a national title. 2.) In 2013 vs. Oklahoma. This was a team that was well on its way to a three-peat before unexpectedly and suddenly falling to Auburn in the infamous kick-six. The letdown for any team under these circumstances would have been massive.
Let’s look at the other two “meaningless” bowl games that Saban has coached at Alabama: 2010 against Michigan State and 2019 against Michigan. I’d say they fared pretty well in those games. Judging by the fact that everyone on this Alabama team has decided to play in this Sugar Bowl tells me that they are serious about going out on a good note. Bet your entire Christmas stocking on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. And, who knows, Bryce Young might come back next year. Just don’t bet on that.
