re: When will we start seeing players opt out after their team loses a game or two ??

I don’t think you would see that unless it’s a player that does get hurt (like one of the Bosa’s) then shutting down rather than come back. Rare are talents that are high first round picks that can do that. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman after LSU had 3 loses and is zooming up draft boards. Those games vs Florida, Ga St and A&M were not “meaningless” in the same way the Corp Sponsor Here Bowl is.

The other thing, and I don’t know why most of you can’t seem the grasp this, the bowls are played 4-6 weeks after the season ends. A few weeks after the semester ends. The regular season has a game each week. A lot easier to keep playing and as Daniels did, have the chance improve your draft position, than to come back and go thru practice and all that a month later for 1 exhibition game