Opt-outs are a new reality of bowl season, as many players decide to forgo the postseason games.
Sometimes it’s about not wanting to hurt their NFL draft stock. Other times, players opt out to get a jump on hitting the transfer portal.
Last year TCU star receivers Jack Bech and Savion Williams opted out of TCU’s 34-3 win over Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl after both players were banged up at the end of the regular season. Bech ended up being drafted in the second round and Williams in the third.
So will TCU football have any opt-outs when it faces USC in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30? Head coach Sonny Dykes gave a surprising answer Tuesday.
“We had a team meeting on Monday to talk about the bowl game. Everybody was here and looked to me like they were excited to play,” Dykes said. “I don’t anticipate anyone not playing.”
That would be huge news for the Horned Frogs if they were able to have their full roster available against the Trojans. It’s a pivotal game for both teams with the potential to be one of the most-viewed bowl games of the season.
No. 16 USC is aiming for its first double-digit win season since head coach Lincoln Riley’s first season in 2022. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs could win nine games in back-to-back years, plus pick up a top-20 win over a marquee opponent.
There’s NFL talent on both sides, which could help each team’s top playmakers move up draft boards.
Among the TCU players who will have to decide whether it’s worth it to play in the bowl game are three seniors, wide receiver Eric McAlister, safety Bud Clark and linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
Clark, a second-team All-Big 12 safety, missed the final two games of the season, and he’s also already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Being fully healthy for that all-star game is something Clark has to consider.
Elarms-Orr, a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker, seems likely to play considering the high-profile opponent.
McAlister, a first-team All-Big 12 wide receiver, is the biggest name to watch, along with USC counterpart Makai Lemon. McAlister was one of the best receivers in the nation and seems a safe bet to be at least a mid-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft.
Dykes offered an encouraging update about McAlister’s status.
“I think he will [play],” Dykes said. “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t. I haven’t had that conversation with him, but I would expect him to.”
TCU will begin practicing for the Alamo Bowl on Thursday.
Game schedule dates, times, locations
NEXT UP: Game dates, times, locations, channel
Rangers ▶
April 21 Rangers 5, Pittsburgh 1
April 22 Pittsburgh 8, Rangers 4
April 23 Rangers 6, Pittsburgh 1
April 24 Athletics 8, Rangers 1
April 25 Rangers 4, Athletics 3
April 26 Athletics 2, Rangers 1
April 27 N.Y. Yankees 4, Rangers 2
April 28 vs. N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m., RSN
April 29 vs. N.Y. Yankees, 1:35 p.m., RSN
May 1 at Detroit, 5:40 p.m., RSN
May 2 at Detroit, 6:15 p.m., Fox
May 3 at Detroit, 6:20 p.m., NBCSN, Peacock
TCU Baseball ▶
April 17 Baylor 11, TCU 4
April 19 TCU 5, Baylor 4 (doubleheader)
April 19 TCU 10, Baylor 2 (doubleheader)
April 21 TCU 6, Dallas Baptist 5 (10 innings)
April 24 TCU 8, Houston 3
April 25 TCU 4, Houston 2
April 26 TCU 14, Houston 2 (7 innings)
April 29 vs. UT Arlington, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 1 at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 2 at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 3 at Oklahoma State, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Stars ▶
First-round playoff series (series tied 2-2)
Game 1: April 18 Minnesota 6, Stars 1
Game 2: April 20 Stars 4, Minnesota 2
Game 3: April 22 Stars 4, Minnesota 3 (2OT)
Game 4: April 25 Minnesota 3, Stars 2 (OT)
Game 5: April 28 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., ESPN2, Victory+
Game 6: April 30 at Minnesota, TBA
Game 7 (if necessary): May 2 vs. Minnesota, TBA
Wings▶
April 30 at Indiana (preseason), 6 p.m., Ion
May 3 vs. Las Vegas (at Austin) (preseason), 6 p.m., Ion
May 9 at Indiana, noon, ABC
May 12 vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m., KFAA
May 14 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
TCU Football ▶
2026 season
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), TBA
Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, TBA
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, TBA
Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA
Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA
Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA
Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA
Nov. 6 at Arizona, TBA
Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA
Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA
Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, TBA
Cowboys ▶
2026 season
Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m.
2026 opponents (dates and times TBA; one home game will be in Rio)
vs. N.Y Giants
vs. Philadelphia
vs. Washington
vs. Arizona
vs. San Francisco
vs. Tampa Bay
vs. Jacksonville
vs. Tennessee
vs. Baltimore
at N.Y Giants
at Philadelphia
at Washington
at L.A. Rams
at Seattle
at Green Bay
at Houston
at Indianapolis
FC Dallas ▶
March 21 FC Dallas 4, Houston 3
April 4 FC Dallas 4, D.C. United 0
April 11 FC Dallas 1, St. Louis 1
April 18 FC Dallas 2, LA Galaxy 2
April 22 Minnesota 1, FC Dallas 0
April 25 at Seattle, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 2 at NY Red Bulls, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 9 vs. Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 13 vs. Vancouver, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 16 at San Jose, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
Texas Motor Speedway ▶
April 23-25 Pate Swap Meet
April 25 FuelFest
April 30-May 2 High Limit Racing Stockyard Stampede
May 1 NASCAR Truck Series: SpeedyCash.com 250
May 2 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series: Andy's Frozen Custard 340
