Every spring, college football fans are left with little more than intrasquad scrimmages and practice highlights. Deion Sanders, better known as Coach Prime, wants to change that. What’s stopping his vision of real spring games from taking over the sport?
Coach Prime Wants Real Spring Games in College Football
Deion Sanders isn’t alone in his push for meaningful spring football. “Deion Sanders wants spring games to be real games, and he’s not alone. I agree with him. I’ve talked to coaches who love this idea. Fran Brown even tweeted about it,” analyst Adam Breneman said in a recent Instagram post, highlighting growing support among coaches for inter-team spring matchups.
The concept has attracted attention from the likes of Syracuse head coach Fran Brown, who volunteered his team for a joint spring game against Sanders’ Colorado squad. Fans and some coaches see the potential for packed stadiums and a true game-day atmosphere in April.
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But the NCAA remains a firm roadblock. “The NCAA still bans teams from scrimmaging each other in the spring,” Breneman explained, pointing to rules that limit teams to 15 practices in a 34-day window, with no outside competition allowed.
Even as support builds for change, the NCAA’s enforcement power is “weaker than it’s ever been,” yet the policy persists. This rigidity has frustrated coaches and fans alike, especially as more programs cancel spring games altogether due to concerns about the transfer portal and roster turnover.
The real holdup, however, is not just the NCAA. “The real holdup is that coaches are not aligned on the topic. Some worry about injuries or giving away too much film. Others don’t want opposing staff scouting their roster for the portal,” Breneman noted.
Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, for example, has scrapped open spring games to avoid exposing his roster to potential poaching.
Meanwhile, other coaches, like Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, are pushing for a complete overhaul, advocating for NFL-style OTAs instead of traditional spring practices. This lack of consensus has left the sport in limbo, with innovative ideas stalled by entrenched concerns.
A Divided Coaching Landscape And The Fan Experience
The debate over spring football reflects deeper divides in college football’s coaching ranks. As some coaches push for greater transparency and fan engagement, others remain wary of the risks.
“Who would you rather watch in April, Colorado against Colorado or Colorado against Syracuse? Casual fans maybe watch their own team, but they weren’t tuning into other teams’ spring games,” Breneman argued, emphasizing the broader appeal of real competition.
For diehard fans, intrasquad games may suffice, but the potential for inter-team matchups could attract a wider audience and boost recruiting.
Logistical and roster concerns also loom large. Many coaches point out that spring rosters are incomplete, with transfers and freshmen arriving in the summer, making meaningful evaluation difficult.
Others fear that increased exposure could accelerate tampering and transfers, a problem already exacerbated by the portal’s current structure. Some coaches, however, remain unfazed by these risks, insisting that players who want to leave will do so regardless of spring game formats.
Despite the challenges, the upside is clear for proponents. “You get real competition in the spring to see how your guys do against a playbook they don’t know… You give your diehard fans a game day experience they can’t get due to price or ticket availability in the fall,” Breneman said. As more coaches and fans voice support, the pressure on the NCAA to adapt may only grow.
KEEP READING: ‘Coach Prime Made Me A Priority’ — 4-Star TE Gavin Mueller Explains Why He’s Joining Deion Sanders, Colorado
Momentum for reform is building. Recent proposals discussed at ACC spring meetings suggest the possibility of major changes to the spring calendar, including a single transfer portal window and even moving spring practices closer to summer in an NFL-style OTA format. These changes could address some coaching concerns while opening the door for real spring games in the future.
For now, the sport stands at a crossroads. Sanders’ plan has energized debate, but until coaches align and the NCAA relents, real spring football games remain a tantalizing “what if” for college football’s offseason.
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