Unlike every child on TikTok, there are a bunch of college football teams out who are turning down a chance to go 6-7 this year.
Per reports, 7 different 5-7 teams passed on bowl opportunities in 2025. Before that septet were even presented possible bowl berths, Notre Dame (10-2), Iowa State (8-4) and Kansas State (6-6) all opted out of bowl contests, meaning we had 10 schools decline to participate in bowl games. And Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz doesn’t understand why.
During a Monday morning appearance on Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, Drinkwitz blasted the institutions that opted out of bowl season.
“People say, ‘anytime, anywhere.’ I guess some people mean it [and] some people don’t,” Drinkwitz said. “For us… this is a heck of an opportunity.”
Attention Missouri residents: Sports betting is now legal in your state! Here’s a bet365 Missouri bonus code to help you get started with one of the top sports betting apps of 2025!
Drinkwitz saying he’s fired up may have been an understatement. He told Dakich it’s “awesome” that his team gets to play in Jacksonville at an NFL stadium. He used the same description when talking about his Gator Bowl foe, Virginia.
“Bowl games are really determined by 2 things. One, the location. What an awesome location… and then the second one is the opponent that you get. What an awesome thing to get to play the ACC regular season champ, get to play Virginia… that’s a quality team.”
The Tigers’ head coach added that “you never know when the last time you’ll get to play football is.”
His actions show he’s all about maximizing those chances for his players, which is something they surely appreciate. Missouri and Virginia will face off in the Gator Bowl at 7:30 p.m. E.T. on Saturday, Dec. 27 (ABC).
