EL PASO, Texas — The Sun Bowl matching No. 15 Notre Dame and 21st-ranked Oregon State is more about who isn’t playing than who is.
The exodus of players left both coaches answering philosophical questions about the future of bowl games beyond Friday’s meeting.
“I think all postseason play is going to change now that you’re talking about a 12-team playoff,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said, referring to next year’s expansion of the four-team College Football Playoff. “We understand that, and for those teams that don’t make the 12-team playoff, you’re going to have to see how many guys you have available and guys that are going to be willing to play.”
Freeman and interim Oregon State coach Kefense Hynson are dealing with it now.
The Fighting Irish (9-3) are without quarterback Sam Hartman, but the headliner might be All-American tackle Joe Alt. The other starting tackle, Blake Fisher, also is preparing for the NFL draft along with running back Audric Estime and linebacker Marist Liufau.
As far as Clark County fans might be concerned, Union High alum Tobias Merriweather — a Notre Dame wide receiver the past two seasons — entered the transfer portal and has since signed with California.
The Beavers (8-4) are down to their third QB in Ben Gulbranson after D.J. Uiagalelei and backup Aidan Chiles entered the transfer portal.
Hynson, who has been wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, is leading Oregon State in the bowl game after Jonathan Smith took the Michigan State job. Trent Bray was promoted from defensive coordinator to be Smith’s permanent replacement.
“I just think for me, the biggest question is in five years, how relevant will the bowls be with the playoff expanded?” Hynson asked. “That to me is the question college football’s got to answer.”
Oregon State also will be without tight end Jack Velling and kicker Atticus Sappington, two more who went to the transfer portal, and linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold. OSU’s leading tackler is preparing for the draft.
“I don’t mean to say this in a callous manner because I love those guys, but they’re not here anymore,” Hynson said. “So I’m not thinking about them in that regard. We got other guys that are going to step up and are going to be better for the opportunity.”
MISSING RB
Oregon State running back Damien Martinez has returned from a suspension over an arrest for driving under the influence. Hynson says he won’t play because he missed too much practice time while away from the team.
“He’s got a whole ‘nother season to play at Oregon State,” Hynson said. “We don’t want to compromise that for one game.”
IRISH UNDER CENTER
Steve Angeli, a redshirt freshman, is set for his first career start at quarterback for Notre Dame. In seven games, he was 19 of 25 for 272 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.
“I think what Steve has done all year has been tremendous in terms of building confidence in the coaching staff,” Freeman said. “We’re going to go with Steve and want to make sure we give him the best opportunity to succeed.”
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Gulbranson gets his first start of the season after making eight, with 10 total appearances, as a redshirt freshman last season. He was 7-1 as the starter, including a 30-3 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Florida when he was named MVP after throwing for 165 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another score.
THREE MEETINGS, THREE BOWLS
This is the third meeting between Oregon State and Notre Dame. All three have been in bowl games. The Beavers won both, capping the 2000 season with a 41-9 victory in the Fiesta Bowl and winning the 2004 Insight Bowl 38-21. It’s the third Sun Bowl for Oregon State and the second for the Irish. They are 3-0 combined.
SUN BOWL FACTS & FIGURES
No. 21 Oregon State (8-4, Pac-12) vs. No. 15 Notre Dame (9-3, independent), Dec. 29, 11 a.m. (Channel 6)
Line: Notre Dame by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
Series record: Oregon State leads 2-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE? — Both teams are missing plenty of starters in the third meeting between Notre Dame and Oregon State. Both of the previous meetings were in bowl games. Both were won by Oregon State. The Beavers are trying to get a victory for interim coach Kefense Hynson before Trent Bray takes over the job following the departure of Johnathan Smith to Michigan State. The Irish have a shot at the 23rd 10-win season in school history and sixth in the past seven seasons.
KEY MATCHUP — Oregon State QB Ben Gulbranson vs. Notre Dame S Xavier Watts. The presence of Watts is a bit of surprise with the national leader in interceptions choosing to play while eligible to enter the NFL draft. Watts has seven picks, while Gulbranson is making his first start since being named the Las Vegas Bowl MVP last season. He had 165 yards passing and two total touchdowns in a 30-3 victory over Florida. Beavers starter D.J. Uiagalelei and backup Aidan Chiles are transferring.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Notre Dame: QB Steve Angeli is set for his first career start after Sam Hartman opted out of the game. Angeli, a redshirt freshman, played in seven games, completing 19 of 25 passes for 272 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Nine years ago, Malik Zaire was a redshirt freshman when he made his first career start for the Irish in a bowl game. Zaire was the Music City Bowl MVP in a 31-28 victory over No. 22 LSU, passing for 96 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 96 more with another TD.
Oregon State: RB Deshaun Fenwick. With Damien Martinez sidelined coming off a suspension over an arrest on a charge of driving under the influence, Fenwick gets a shot as the lead back in the last of his 35 games with the Beavers. Fenwick played parts of three seasons at South Carolina before his three-year run with Oregon State. He has 500 yards and five touchdowns this season and 2,024 yards and 18 scores for his career.
NOTES — This is one of three bowls outside the New Year’s Six or the College Football Playoff matching two ranked teams. … Watts isn’t the only defensive standout who decided to play for Notre Dame. LB JD Bertrand had a team-high 75 tackles with 2 1/2 sacks and four pass breakups. … Oregon State S Kitan Oladapo has 237 career tackles going into his 46th and final game. … A win would make the Irish 21-21 all-time in bowl games. … The Beavers are in a third consecutive bowl game for the first time since going to four in a row from 2006-09.
