By Stephen Leonard
They don’t call him “Prime Time” for no reason. Deion Sanders and Colorado had the right idea to save the spring game for all of college football. Colorado and Syracuse attempted to schedule a joint spring scrimmage but, of course, the NCAA denied the request stating it would give these teams an unfair recruiting advantage given the late timing as some teams had already concluded their spring games.
Recruiting is the life blood of college football success, so much so, that teams have cancelled their respective spring games to avoid what some like to call “tampering” or recruiting.
Tampering is the “illegal” recruiting outside of the official transfer portal entry list and often large sums of “illegal” pay for play agreements.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule kicked off the trend for one of the historically best attended spring games in all of college football, deciding to scrap the Conrhuskers’ traditional spring game for fear of tampering or recruitment of his players.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule says he 'highly doubts' there will be a traditional spring game.
"The word tampering doesn't exist anymore its just absolute free open common market…I don't want these guys all being able to watch our guys." #Huskers @KETV pic.twitter.com/lQsXHTgvUM
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) February 1, 2025
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Another Tradition Lost?
Alabama had an A-Day practice and Texas canceled the spring game all together. Ohio State attempted to change their game to a showcase but Ryan Day—at the last minute—wanted to test his QB contenders with 11-on-11 game scenarios. Or maybe it was the just the low ticket sales. With about a 41,000 in attendance—which Buckeye faithful consider a poor showing for a fan base that has brought in 90,000-100,000 in past years.
Their rivals up north, Michigan, had another unique approach to the spring game playing live, but choosing to air on tape delay a week later after after the transfer portal closed.
Tampering and college coaches’ obsession to minimize their players from being poached might eliminate spring games across the country in the next few years. Everything else is changing to an NFL model and the spring game better adapt or get left behind as yet another college football tradition sacrificed.
Hurting the Fans
The sad part being this one just so happens to hurt the diehard fans and families with children the most. Some that cannot afford high prices in the fall or want to get closet to the action can afford to do so in the spring. Pictures like these below make a beautiful day in the spring particularly special.
RB James Peoples OT Carter Lowe and CB Devin Sanchez taking time for the kids!!!
Ohio State Spring Game pic.twitter.com/7j6tQXPsxF— Buckeye Backers (@BuckeyeBackers) April 12, 2025
The only way to save the spring is to make it a recruiting advantage like Sanders attempted, jointly. If there is anything Sanders knows best it is how to get attention, just ask Oregon head coach Dan Lanning. The future is joint spring games or no spring games.
