Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule recently called for a joint practice with Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. Despite being rivals on the field, Nebraska and Colorado seem to want a joint practice. Unfortunately, the FBS oversight committee has denied the joint practice request.
According to their reasoning, it’s partly due to the late timing of the request. However, the FBS said they would discuss it at a later date for future potential joint practices. Despite being disappointed, Rhule wasn’t shocked by the NCAA’s ruling.
Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule Forsaw NCAA’s Rejection of Joint Practices With Colorado
While coaching in the NFL, Rhule and the Carolina Panthers had a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts in the 2021 training camp and again in the 2022 training camp with the New England Patriots. However, he thinks there’s too much red tape in college to pull off something like this
“If anybody can do it, coach (Deion) Sanders can, and I know Fran (Brown) jumped in there,” Rhule said. “Fran’s someone I’ve known a long time. If anyone can get it done, they will. If that happened, though, I would certainly look into all that that has to offer.”
Rhule hoped that he and Sanders could pull off this historic moment in college football. However, he was far from sure that it would happen. Despite the letdown of the response given by the NCAA and the FBS oversight committee, Rhule called this decision weeks ago.
“I think if they ever passed something like that, then I would do it,” Rhule said weeks ago. “But, I think the possibility of that is so remote. If they did it, I would look at it, but otherwise, it would just be me surmising about something I don’t think probably will happen.”
“If they did, I certainly would look at it.” When asked why it wouldn’t happen by a reporter, Rhule kept it simple. “I just think it’s outside the current playing rules. Maybe it’ll happen, who knows, but it’s just so far out there.”
Colorado and Nebraska are certainly not the only teams that would like to have a joint practice. It’s an interesting concept for the college football world, but it has become quite a common practice in the NFL. If given the opportunity, a joint practice could benefit everyone involved.
The NCAA’s Reluctance To Embrace Change
The NCAA’s decision to deny the joint practice request highlights its long-standing resistance to adopting NFL-style innovations. While joint practices have become routine at the professional level—offering teams controlled, competitive environments to improve—college football operates under a different set of restrictions.
The NCAA’s cautious approach stems from concerns about competitive balance, logistical challenges, and potential unintended consequences in recruiting and player development.
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However, programs like Nebraska and Colorado see the value in these sessions. Joint practices allow teams to simulate live-game situations against unfamiliar opponents, offering a fresh challenge beyond the scripted nature of intrasquad scrimmages.
For coaches like Rhule, who have NFL experience, this approach makes perfect sense.
Could Joint Practices Become the Future?
Despite the NCAA’s initial rejection, Rhule’s comments suggest that the door isn’t entirely closed. The FBS oversight committee acknowledged that the concept deserves further discussion, meaning future adjustments to the rulebook could be possible.
If momentum builds among coaches and athletic directors, the NCAA may be forced to reconsider.
For now, though, joint practices remain an idea rather than a reality in college football. Rhule’s foresight about the NCAA’s reluctance proved correct, but that doesn’t mean the conversation is over.
With the ever-changing landscape of college athletics—especially in an era of NIL deals, conference realignments, and expanded playoffs—the possibility of joint practices could resurface sooner rather than later.
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