As for BYU, which is wrapping up bowl preparation practices for its game versus Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, it looks to be good to go on the literal aspect. When asked by the media on Wednesday if there’s any player on the team who is opting out in favor of resting up for the NFL draft or otherwise, BYU Coach Kalani Sitake reaffirmed his expectation that his team will present a full participation.

“There is still time between now and the game, but they’re practicing,” Sitake said. “I think the biggest issue is, can we get guys healthy and 100% by the time we get to the game? Is there enough practice time to get them ready? Right now, I think we’re on a good trajectory for that.”

Perhaps the biggest question marks surrounding player availability involve Cougar quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who sat out initial bowl practice sessions due to an ankle injury, along with running back LJ Martin, who is considered a strong possibility to forgo his senior season in favor of making himself eligible for the upcoming NFL draft.

As for Bachmeier, he was a participant in Wednesday’s practice session and subsequently was made available to the media after.

“Feeling good, feeling prepared, and the team is looking good,” Bachmeier said when asked directly regarding his ankle injury. “… I have been out here, slowly increasing in the reps (I get), and feeling good.”

Also nursing a gimpy ankle, and for far longer than Bachmeier, is linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who mentioned he’s been battling through his particular injury since the team’s game versus Colorado back in late September. Glasker was viewed as a prime candidate for the NFL draft prior to the season, although the prospect isn’t a certain one, perhaps due to the 6-foot-5 junior outside linebacker’s play being somewhat diminished this season due to injury.

“This off week…has been good. It really allowed my body to recover,” Glasker said.

With regards to any specific plans made, Glasker stated that he’s only focused on the game at hand and will defer even considering the option until after the bowl game.

“It’s really just up in the air right now,” Glasker said. “I’m trying to just focus on the bowl game and then figure out from there…I talk to my parents all the time, and I feel it’s in my best interest just to wait.”

On the emotionally-prepared front, that aspect is often tougher to gauge. Sure, every player will tell you they’re fully-invested in the task at hand, but whether that’s true or not isn’t often revealed until the actual gameplay, and sometimes is never truly revealed at all.

The best evidence that BYU will be emotionally prepared to play has been a team culture that has been revealed to be relatively strong throughout the season, with players genuinely enjoying playing one with another.

“We just like to have fun. We just like to play with our players on the field,” Bachmeier said. “I think that’s self-explanatory in itself in how motivated we are to play this game.”

Other aspects, beyond simply the enjoyment of playing together are also in play, according to Glasker.

“People overlook the Big-12 (Conference) and how talented we are,” he said. “If we catch this win, then we can really make a difference for the Big-12…I feel that if we get a win here then we can really show the (CFP) committee what the Big-12 is all about.”

“Like I said before, they love football. It is another opportunity to play,” Sitake summed up regarding his team’s overall perspective. “Obviously, everybody’s going for the playoffs, but the truth is, we have an opportunity to play again, and we have an opportunity to practice again. Those bowl practices (last year) were really good in our development for this year, and this year’s will be the same thing for next year.”