The bolded is the entire point. We have 120ish players, but only 22 starters. Next years first time starters are backups this year that could really benefit from the extra bowl practices.seriously.. most star players have been opting out of bowl games these last few years.. it's another chance to get injured and there is little to gain from it, unless you're a backup player trying to get noticed.
Also, I suppose the trip to Florida/Texas/California would be nice for a kid from Nebraska, but I doubt it means much to the players who are actually from Florida/Texas/California etc.
Now a playoff means something, and ofc the players want to play in that game, but a bowl game these days is kinda for losers.. (think about it from a championship mindset.. that's where all the losers end up.). And if you're a fan looking at this as your super bowl moment or just something meaningful, then I'm sorry, you really are living in another world.. which ironically is where most Nebraska fans are living these days.
And everybody likes a trip on someone else’s dime.