Missouri State QB frustrated over bowl opt outs after Xbox Bowl loss

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FRISCO, TX — Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark was sacked eight times during his team’s 34-28 loss to Arkansas State in the Xbox Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 18, but he still almost found a way to help his team pull off a comeback.

It would have been a lot easier if he had a few of his offensive linemen, who didn’t play in the game.

Clark, after his final collegiate game, expressed his frustration over college football’s calendar and its impact on bowl games. Some players intend to enter the transfer portal once it opens on Jan. 2, so they opt out of playing in the game to avoid injury and maximize the Name, Image and Likeness and revenue-sharing dollars they may receive.

“It’s just the state of college football nowadays,” Clark said. “Something kind of needs to be fixed with guys opting out of games. It’s just how it is, and guys have to step up.”

In the Xbox Bowl, Missouri State played without starting left tackle Ebubedike Nnabugwu, who ranked as the best pass protector in Conference USA and intends to enter the transfer portal. The Bears were also without right tackle Erick Cade, who doesn’t have any remaining eligibility in 2026.

Starting center Cash Hudson played in the game, even though he will reportedly transfer after this season. Hudson limped off the field during the fourth quarter. Defensive end DJ Wesolak also didn’t play and is portal-bound.

Clark referenced UTSA coach Jeff Traylor, who recently went on a rant about the state of bowl games because of players opting out in favor of the transfer portal. The Roadrunners play Florida International in the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26.

“The number (of opt outs) is so big because of all of the tampering and the agents and coaches too,” Traylor said. “They’re being promised such incredible (money) to where they’re getting lured into the portal. I hate it because I really want to coach them in a bowl game, but they’re getting leveraged out of it. I hate what’s going on in college football. I never thought we’d be punished for making a bowl game by being leveraged.”

Clark still managed a solid performance, throwing for 349 yards and four touchdowns in his final game. Three of his touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, bringing the Bears back from a 31-7 fourth-quarter deficit, but falling short after they weren’t able to recover an onside kick.

Clark could have had a fourth fourth-quarter touchdown pass when the Bears were deep in Arkansas State territory, but he was strip-sacked with 9:08 to go, and the Red Wolves recovered.

Perhaps that wouldn’t have happened, and the Bears would’ve been in a better spot to come out with their first FBS bowl win if they had all of their players.

“It’s just the nature of bowl games these days, and something needs to get figured out so you can have your whole team play, ’cause it’d be fun,” Clark said.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State QB frustrated over bowl opt outs after Xbox Bowl loss

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