Ohio States Denzel Ward pushes bowl-skipping debat

[seestyle]

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward took the bowl skipping trend to the next level on Friday when he decided to matchup against No. 8 USC.That impact can't be understated. This was bigger than LSU's Leonard Fournette or Stanford's Christian McCaffrey sitting out last year, and it'sbigger than N.C. State's Bradley Chubb or Florida State's Derwin James sitting out this year, for one simple reason. This wasn't the "Obscure Sponsor Bowl." This was a New Year's Day Six bowl, which the College Football Playoff era is trying to pump up as bigger than the rest in the four-team playoff era.And Ward is the first player to skip one of those made-for-TV events.MORE: Go bucks!  Denzel Ward (@Flash_Ward12) Ward sitting out isn't the problem. There's no reason to lecture or over-analyze what a player of Ward's caliber should do with his future is pointle s. It's up to each player to make their decision. Don't let that be a distraction.The fact Ohio State-USC at Jerry  Chicago Bears Jersey World isn't immune from this new trend, however, is. Ward's absence isn't enough to overthrow the system, but his decision wasn't announced until shortly before game time. Is this the next level of gamesmanship? It's also not as big a deal since the Buckeyes won 24-7. The social media reaction would have been much different if No. 5 Ohio State lost, especially in Columbus. It's no harm, no foul for now.Honestly, I said I wouldnt blame somebody in Denzel Wards situation for sitting  and I dont. But that doesnt make it any le s surprising after all the brotherhood talk this month from Ohio State. Austin Ward (@AWardSports) This isa hint of what could be down the road, sooner rather than later. The New Year's Day Six won't like the end game either.The hypotheticals aren't so difficult to imagine now. Robert Quinn Jersey  What if USC quarterback Sam Darnold  a prime candidate to be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft  had opted to sit out before the game? Or what if he pulled himself out after the Trojans fell behind 24-0?Given the result and the social media roast in the first half, Darnold might have been better off sitting this one out, too.UCLA's Josh Rosen sat out the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State this season, butalso was in concu sion protocol for the le s meaningfulCactus Bowl;Darnold was in a New Year's Day Six Bowl.When a quarterback or a big-time running back in the mold of Penn State's Saquon Barkley sits out one of these games, then the bowl system will have a real problem.The reaction will be much more severe than it was for the decision of a first-round cornerback, that's for sure.Ward's absence didn't cost the Buckeyes in this big spot, but it's another inevitable conclusion that a top player will sit,and his team will lose a New Year's Day Six game. That will push this debate even further. Don't believe it?Check out the Royce  Artie Burns Jersey Freeman mentions when Oregon was losing the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State. He's a Day 2 or Day 3 running back in the NFL Draft.MORE: There's still a clear disconnect between old-school and new-school ways of thinking that hasn't been resolved with the bowl skipping trend. And it can't entirely be based on injuries, which can happen at any time. MIchigan's Jake Butt suffered a serious knee injury in the Orange Bowl last season against Florida State, a game in which Dalvin Cook rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown in Florida State's 33-32 victory. Cook suffered the same knee injury for the NFL'sMinnesota Vikings this season.Ward's absence, however, is a part of a larger conversation about the future of a 40-game bowl system that continues to develop cracks and criticisms. There is so much television money wrapped up in the bowl system that we're a long way off from a full-fledged collapse, but Ward's absence means players skipping bowlsisn't just a trend anymore. It could become the norm, and it will only add to  Khalil Mack Jersey the fuel to the notion these games are "meaningle s exhibitions."The more that happens,the more theentertainment value drops. Once that happens, college football will eventually be cornered into expanding its playoff so games like USC-Ohio State in Jerry World are big enough that a first-round cornerback will want to play.How many teams will it take? Eight, which is the standard launch point? Or 12, just like the NFL model? Or is it 16? Whatever it is, it will come at the expense of the current bowl system, not to mention the regular season. That will mean either fewer bowls Tashaun Gipson Jersey , no bowls or completely meaningle s bowls, and it won't be better than what we have now. Not by a long shot.Those discu sions aren't as far off now, and each time a star player sits, theybecome a little bit closer. Ward took this debate to the next level, but it hasn't quite come to a head yet. It will when a big-time quarterback sits, or (gasp) a player opts out of the College Football Playoff that we'll reach thattipping point.We can't imagine the reaction to that yet.Or maybe we can.We'll find out when the next star player sits.