Arizona lost to SMU 24-19 in the Holiday Bowl, bringing a disappointing finish to an otherwise enjoyable season.
As is the case with any loss, fans, analysts and others look at the game and try to figure out why.
For some, Arizona’s offense — especially in the first half wherein it produced all of zero points — is to blame.
For others, a defense that surrendered 24 points in the first 30 minutes of action is the culprit.
There are of course those who are choosing not to point the finger at either side
of the ball as a whole, but instead at three players who combined for zero snaps in the game: Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith.
As we all learned just before kickoff, the trio of defensive backs decided to opt out of the game, ostensibly so they can remain healthy and focus on preparing for the NFL Draft. It’s a decision many players across the country have made and has become increasingly more common over the years.
“Those are family decisions, and we respect that,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said after the game Friday regarding the opt outs. “We love those guys. Those guys have made an incredible impact on our program this season, and for all the years they’ve been here at the University of Arizona. I want to be respectful of that for them and their families.”
Now it is fair to wonder how the Cats may have fared against a dynamic passing offense with three of their best secondary players. Maybe some of the passes SMU connected on, the ones that led to that first half lead, would have fallen incomplete or even been picked. At the very least, it wouldn’t have hurt Arizona to have all that talent and experience in the secondary rather than forcing the team to rely on young and unproven players.
But alas, knowing how important they were to one of the top passing defenses in the league and to the team’s chances of winning a 10th game, the trio elected to opt out.
The thing is, prior to this game each of them had opted in again and again and again. All chose to stick with Arizona through coaching changes and coordinator changes. All most assuredly had opportunities to leave over the last couple of seasons — and who could have blamed them if they did — and yet each chose to continue their careers in the place where they started.
That their last game was a win over Arizona State in Tempe, a game in which both Stukes and Johnson made key interceptions and Smith recovered an important fumble, is fine.
Would a win over the Holiday Bowl have been nice? Of course. Would them having played in the game guaranteed a win in the Holiday Bowl? Nope.
Let’s remember that, as well as that Jordan Morgan opted out of the Alamo Bowl two years ago. And for what it’s worth, had Arizona been good enough to reach a bowl game last season do you really think Tetairoa McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea or other stars would have played in it? I’m not so sure, and that’s in no way meant to impugn on any player’s character or dedication to the team.
It’s simple reality.
Now you may be thinking that while Morgan and T-Mac were set to be first or second-round picks, neither of the three defensive backs are projected to be day one or two picks in the NFL Draft. You might also believe none are surefire NFL players.
But in many regards that’s why it’s even more important for them to enter the offseason healthy, as every opportunity to perform directly in front of teams and scouts either in settings like the East-West Shrine Bowl (Johnson), the Senior Bowl (Stukes) is invaluable. With the amount of football each has played by now there is enough film for NFL scouts and coaches to get an idea of what they are capable of, and one more game wouldn’t have done much to move the needle.
Which is why the concern about getting injured in what amounts to a college exhibition game is valid, and unfortunately their decision was likely reaffirmed when left tackle Ty Buchanan, himself a player whose senior season may have gotten some attention from the next level, went down with what appears to be a serious injury. As someone whose NFL hopes were heavily reliant on postseason workouts and such, this is incredibly unfortunate and damaging to his prospects.
With that in mind, do you think there is more value for Arizona as a program in possibly winning the Holiday Bowl or having players’ names called during the NFL Draft, complete with “from the University of Arizona,” and highlights from their time in the red and blue?
As someone who spent money to go to the Holiday Bowl with his wife and toddler and would have very much enjoyed a win, I’ll take the draft. Showing you can develop and send guys to the NFL with regularity and in abundance will help the program far more than losing the bowl game will hurt.
You might feel differently, and that is your right. It is also your right, and completely valid, to feel upset about the direction college football has taken. Be it opting out, NIL, the transfer portal or something else, it is certainly difficult to have the same feelings toward the game and its players as you may have had 15, 20 years ago.
The path college football and college sports as a whole is on may not be a good one, but we cannot blame players for walking it. With regards to Stukes, Da Johnson and Genesis Smith, each of whom decided to move on one game sooner than many would have preferred, we should be thankful for what they did in Tucson and hope they will have more success in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Because remember they are not the first key Arizona players to opt out of a bowl game, and as long as the Cats continue to reach the postseason they most certainly will not be the last.
