Abdelrahman
Dave Wilson
In a notable shift for college football, both Texas and USC have decided to cancel their spring games, following in the footsteps of Nebraska.
“We won’t be holding a spring game this year,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian shared during the Up & Adams Show podcast on Thursday. “The landscape of college football is evolving, and it’s crucial for us as coaches to adapt accordingly.”
Sarkisian noted that over the past two seasons, Texas has competed in 30 games and had 25 players invited to the NFL combine. He emphasized that the physical toll on players and the recent influx of 21 mid-year recruits necessitated a change in approach.
“Typically, you finish your last game and take a month off before the bowl game,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte explained to ESPN. “But we played an extensive season, including games against [Texas] A&M, the SEC championship, a home game, and both quarterfinal and semifinal matches. The reality is we played four additional games. It’s clear we need to rethink how we structure our spring activities.”
Sarkisian expressed hopes of implementing an NFL-style approach during spring, incorporating organized team activities (OTAs) alongside scrimmages, highlighting the adjustments needed for player development in preparation for the fall.
A source from USC mentioned that the potential for injuries and more strategic allocation of financial resources diminishes the value of spring games.
“The primary function of a spring game has become fan engagement,” the source stated. “We believe we can create better opportunities for fan interaction without formal games.”
Unlike Nebraska, which canceled its spring game due to concerns over showcasing players to potential recruiters, USC and Texas are taking a proactive approach to safeguard their rosters amid an evolving recruiting landscape.
“The previous year, our spring game attracted significant viewership, leading to heavy interest in our players,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule shared. “There’s a clear lack of regulation around what constitutes tampering in today’s climate, making it challenging to control player attention.” Rhule aims to minimize external scrutiny as the NCAA’s spring transfer portal window approaches from April 16-25.
Florida State has also canceled its spring game this year due to ongoing renovations at Doak Campbell Stadium. Coach Mike Norvell anticipates that the trend of skipping spring games will likely continue, noting, “Teams can evolve significantly during the offseason, which makes spring games less advantageous in terms of strategy. It’s vital that we use our available practice days for maximum productivity.”
However, Del Conte clarified that Texas does not intend to make this decision permanent. “I wouldn’t characterize this as a long-term shift; we are merely reassessing the events of this year,” he stated.
This report includes contributions from ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, Heather Dinich, and Paolo Uggetti.
