They should because VT did it a couple of times in bowls.

Fans would be peeved at players who opted out. No one else.

Sands, Whit, Brad, Chris or CMY. And, I don't expect to.

Without them the whole thing collapses. If they spend their time on the rest of us, the end will come even sooner.

Madness like we have seen a few players do with the CFP.

...the way NIL deals are being done a lot of places also makes it less likely. For example Oklahoma Dtate had three players opt out of the NIT and then Steve Lutz suspended them for non-participation- which seems like it shouldn't matter but the way their contracts are done the suspension now keeps them from further NIL payment.

isn't paying them could be a reason players may decide to opt out. Particularly when you consider the NCAA passed a rule that teams couldn't turn down a NCAAT invitation after Marquette declined the invitation because it didn't like where it was seeded in the tournament and accepted a bid to the NIT out of spite. As far as whether suspension is a potential solution or not, may be up to the courts to decide. Even if the Oklahoma State players decide to not challenge the suspension in court, I do think at some point a player will challenge a coach's authority to impact payments related to a NIL contract especially if that NIL contract is with a third party.

the road if tournaments like the Crown are paying and the NCAA is not. The adults running collegiate sports have no one to blame but themselves for kicking the can down the road and allowing a potentially manageable issue to fester and balloon in to the current situation. Likely a coming real life example of the old adage, "pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered." ** Edited by 2hhoop3 at 3/18/2026, 5:06:50 PM

Bowl games are not playoff games. They are completely separate circumstances and entities. There is absolutely no evidence that anyone would do as you are suggesting.

Draft. SMU had Omari Abor, Preston Stone, Jahari Rogers opted out when they played Penn State in the First Round in 2024. Likewise, Penn State had Beau Pribula, T.A. Cunningham, and Feyisayo Oluleye opt out that same year. I'm sure there are other examples out there. As far as whether the players were starters or backups, I am not sure it really matters. Particularly if that player still saw significant PT during the season. Even if a player saw little to no PT during the season, it could still be significant if basketball starts to see a similar type of behavior. Particularly if a team is forced to dress 7-8 players for a game and that team has multiple players foul out during the game to drop the number of eligible players below 5.

Cause portal is open during the playoff and players want to find team. CFB coaches have complained about the portal windows during playoffs.

whether the player is consider 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or even 6th on the depth chart for that position. Given the huge difference in roster size between the 2 sports, some people may not even equate the 5th or 6th player on the depth chart with the 13th, 14th, or 15th (?) player on the basketball roster. While other people may equate them because they are using a different equation value. Regardless how people equate the 2 rosters, I do think people may want to keep 1 eye on whether more players decide to opt out of the CFP either to prepare for the NFL Draft or enter the Portal going forward. If there is a gradual increase in that behavior, then at some point it could influence basketball players to start to exhibit similar behavior. Once that happens, then it could have a bigger impact on the quality of NCAA Tournament games because of the significantly reduced roster size. Ice hockey may be another sport that be influenced by football. Baseball is probably safe because of MLB's 3-year rule so that should significant reduce the pool of players who could exhibit this behavior in a given year.

But that's not happening. Personally? This doesn't bother me at all. ** Edited by Snape at 3/18/2026, 10:20:08 AM ** Edited by Snape at 3/18/2026, 10:23:49 AM

environment. IF NIT guaranteed 500k+ and all expenses, sure play it. Many vt alum outside the sports bubble don't know what the NIT is....

Plotting how to keep compensated athletes who aren’t really students properly motivated in the future to play in a declining minor tournament if they don’t make the ncaas while countless other schools also decline it. I’d bet they use AI to make NIT motivational videos so they can brainwash the team next year into beleiving the NIT is a national institution that demand respect. Or maybe they are all filling out their NIT brackets for the pool and realized it was a missed opportunity to play some more games for tv audiences of 200,000. .

your players vote not to play. What do you think they would do......Play hard or... I'm glad they didn't, Time MY regroup his team and staff..IMHO

WIthin VT athletics in partnership with athletic programs, there is horrible strategic communications,....From the programs to athletic department.... There are ways to 1) inform who you need to know (leadership, High donors) on the process and odds of going, then crafting a message that anticipates responses. How many do we have for corporate communications?? one??? who also is handing the high demands of football. really>.. At the other schools who rejected the NIT, you never saw this drama.... and it was unnecessary

Carry On

LOL....