Colorado head coach Deion Sanders wants to get his guys prepared for next season in the best way he can.
Instead of playing a traditional spring game where one team’s offense and defense battle it out with a unique scoring system, Sanders wants to take it to another level and face another program this spring.
Fortunately for him, a head coach at another university already responded to his proposal.
Fran Brown Responds to Deion Sanders’ Joint Spring Game Proposal
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown saw Sanders’ idea and indicated that his team would be willing to play in a joint spring game.
“.@DeionSanders we will come to Boulder for 3 days 🎯🍊🙏,” Brown said in a tweet Monday.
In less than an hour, the tweet has already been viewed 857,300 times with more than 1,200 reposts and 8,900 likes. It’s very likely that Sanders has already seen Brown’s tweet, and the two are working on a way to make a spring game work logistically.
Sanders talked to reporters Monday and expressed why he’s in favor of a joint game and the need for a better spring experience for fans and teams.
“To have it competitive, playing against your own guys kind of gets monotonous,” Sanders said. “You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, it’s the same old, same old — everybody kind of knows each other.”
.@DeionSanders we will come to Boulder for 3 days 🎯🍊🙏🏾 https://t.co/RFkyveLPv1
— Fran Brown (@FranBrownCuse) March 17, 2025
A joint practice and spring game is something relatively unheard of in college but is quite normal in the NFL. Teams will often practice against each other ahead of a preseason game.
The benefits usually outweigh the harm, as it gives teams an opportunity to face new looks, schemes, and personnel. However, in some cases, emotions run high, and fights break out.
Sanders’ competitive nature is evident. He mentioned in the press conference that he doesn’t want spring games to end and wants to find a way for them to continue. His joint practice and game would definitely spark interest but may require the NCAA to alter its rules.
“We’ve got to sell this thing out and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game,” Sanders said. “I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that. I would like to play the spring game. Actually, I like to play against another team in the spring.”
Nevertheless, a joint spring game for two college programs would make for good television despite both teams entering a new era.
Colorado finished with its first winning season since 2015, but in 2025, they will be without key players, such as Sheduer Sanders and Travis Hunter, both of whom are top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Syracuse, meanwhile, had an excellent 2024-25 season, going 10-3 and winning 52-35 in a bowl victory over Washington State. Quarterback Kyle McCord played a big part in that success, but he is also heading to the NFL.
Spring games are slowly becoming a thing of the past because of NIL and the transfer portal. What was once a way for teams to evaluate players and showcase talents ahead of the fall season turned into poaching opposing rosters.
Back in February, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule was the first to say that they weren’t having a spring game, stating his concerns about tampering. Other programs like Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and Florida State have followed suit, opting out of a traditional spring game.
According to ESPN, 19 Power Four programs have canceled their spring game and elected to play a spring showcase or alumni game instead.
KEEP READING: Deion Sanders Net Worth – A Closer Look After Latest Texas Estate Upgrade
While that isn’t what college football fans want to hear, it is refreshing that Deion Sanders is taking a different approach and trying to find ways to improve the spring game instead of eliminating it.
Colorado’s spring game is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, and will be televised on ESPN2. Fans will be keeping an eye on this development in case Sanders’ and Brown’s squads face off in Boulder.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
