Report: 1 Power 5 conference will only have 2 teams participating in bowl games this year

The Pac-12 will only have two teams participating in bowl season this year, according to a report.

That’s per Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, who reports only Oregon and Colorado plan to play in a bowl game this season.

Pac-12 will only have 2 teams – Oregon & Colorado – play in a bowl. Multiple opt outs from Power 5 teams are why at least 2 bowl games expected to be canceled today, sources told @Stadium

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 20, 2020

Due to the pandemic, all 12 teams would have been eligible to accept a bowl invite. But it seems that many programs outside of NY6 consideration will opt to start their offseason instead.

Oregon won the Pac-12, so the Ducks will play in the Fiesta Bowl. The Buffs are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, so it makes sense they’d want to enjoy a bowl game.

More than a dozen Power 5 teams have already publicly opted out of bowl season. Boston College coach Jeff Hafley justified the decision earlier this month by saying it’s the best reward schools can give their players for a long, difficult season away from their families.

BC coach Jeff Hafley says the biggest reward of a bowl week is "a week away with your friends." Since that won't be the bowl experience this year, a better reward will be letting the kids spend the holidays with their families.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 10, 2020

The College Football Playoff and NY6 bowls will be announced on Sunday.