UConn WR Skyler Bell Starts Fenway Bowl, Then Opts Out After One Drive
In a college football season full of opt-outs and shifting priorities, UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell added a new twist to the conversation.
Bell, a senior and one of the Huskies' most dynamic offensive weapons, suited up for the Fenway Bowl against Army on Saturday-but only briefly. After taking the field for the opening offensive drive, Bell exited the game and didn’t return. He changed out of his uniform and was later seen on the sidelines in street clothes, effectively opting out midgame.
It was a surprising turn of events, especially considering Bell had previously expressed his commitment to playing in the bowl. In the days leading up to the game, he spoke passionately about his love for football and his desire to finish what he started.
“If you have been around me and know me, I am a football player, I love to play football,” Bell said during a pregame press conference. “I came to college before the whole NIL and transfer portal thing... you were just playing football on scholarship.”
That message resonated with fans and media alike, especially as many high-profile players around the country chose to sit out bowl games to focus on the NFL Draft or avoid injury. Bell’s decision to suit up was seen as a throwback mentality-someone playing for the love of the game.
But once kickoff came, the narrative shifted. After just one series on offense, Bell left the field and didn’t return.
While no official reason has been given for his early exit, the optics were jarring. One moment, he was lined up as UConn’s WR1.
The next, he was on the sidelines in a hoodie, out of uniform.
In a bowl season already marked by high-profile absences-Notre Dame pulled out of its bowl entirely after missing the College Football Playoff, while Kansas State and Iowa State were fined $500,000 each by the Big 12 for opting out-Bell’s in-game departure added another layer to the evolving conversation around bowl game participation.
Whether it was a personal decision, a precaution, or something else entirely, Bell’s midgame opt-out is now part of a larger trend in college football. Players are increasingly weighing long-term goals against short-term appearances, and as the sport continues to evolve with NIL and transfer portal dynamics, these moments are becoming more common.
Still, for a player who publicly committed to finishing his college career on the field, the one-drive exit was unexpected. Bell has been a key contributor for UConn and was recognized as a Group of Five All-American. His choice to open the game, then immediately shut it down, will likely spark debate among fans and analysts alike.
What’s clear is this: college football’s postseason continues to shift, and Skyler Bell’s brief appearance at the Fenway Bowl is the latest example of just how much the game-and how players approach it-is changing.