Do College Football Spring Games still have worth it in 2025 or are they on the past?

Are College Football Spring Games belonging to the past? The concerns of Nebraska coach Matt Rhule that the decisions of The Texas and the USC recently cancel their spring games for various reasons have triggered the discussion about the value of spring games and the role of spring practice.

The extended season with an extended college football playoff and spring player movement during the April transfer portal window asked some programs to redesign spring football and some about whether major changes are required.

We asked coaches and employees across the country to play their thoughts on spring games, spring practice and what everything could look like.

Are players really poached by spring games?

It depends on. This month Rhule said that after Nebraska's spring game last year, some of his players were manipulated by other programs.

“So to go out and bring a few new players and then show them for all other schools that don't make much sense for me,” said Rhule on February 1st. no longer exists, it is only absolute free, open, common market. And so I don't necessarily want to open the spring game for the outside world. I don't want these boys to watch and say all of our boys: 'Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let us get him. '”

A former Power 4 scouting director who granted anonymity in exchange for his openness said he understood the perspective of Rhule.

“As someone who was sitting in Stabtreffen in April and May and heard of two of our first semester who had been on campus for four months, received calls from other schools because they went in spring ball and in the spring game, yes, yes, I totally come To where coaches come, ”said the scouting director.

He said the video employees of his team downloaded television copies from spring games that were broadcast publicly last year so that the scouting employees could split them and the players, as well as with traditional feature film.

“It was more like,” said this guy, he would go to the portal, “or” This type would go in if we were interested, let's cut his spring game, “he said.

Others called the concerns that described as “exaggerated” in view of the time of the spring portal window, which is located after a few spring games. This year the spring sports window will be open on April 16 and closes on April 25th.

“It is too late at this point,” said a General Manager of Power 4. “We won't wait until the portal takes place at the end of April to find someone. “Oh, this D end has expired.”

A Power 4 recruitment coordinator said: “I don't switch on ESPN to see Nebraska's spring game. That won't do anything for me. When guys go to the portal, we'll watch the film from autumn. We don't look at spring exercise band. We do not make our final assessment on this. “

Even without spring games transmitted on television, there are manipulations. Tulane coach Jon Sumrall told The athlete This week, some of his players have told him this semester that they may already get to the portal from other programs and some players who have gone in the past even though they were not officially in the portal at that time.

“When you go, go off anyway,” said Sumrall. “So I don't waste a lot of time or energy about which I think about (who looks at our spring game).”

A group of 5 General Manager said that it could be a deterrent to host or transfer a spring game, but not solve the problem.

“As you do on the Power 4 level, you will know something about your boys anyway, whether you have the spring game on TV or not,” he said.

Which other factors change in spring practice or spring games?

When Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in the “Up & Adams Show” said last week that the Longhorns will not organize a traditional spring game this year, he mentioned nothing about manipulations. Instead, after a season with 16 games, he emphasized the wear of his players.

“We have played 30 games in the past two years,” he said. “That is a lot for College Football.”

Due to the extended playoff, the season ended later than ever spring plans because “to believe that we can continue with the same spring game or the same spring practice model, demands trouble.”

Sarkisian, on which the first half of spring practice in Texas is referred to as “more an OTA style”, allusion and individual skills. Then the second half of spring will contain more traditional scrimmage formats in Texas, he said.

“I just don't know if it is the best for us to maximize the possibilities we get if we only have 15 exercises when we roll out the ball and play a game,” he said.

The window for the spring portal has led to a discussion about the time of spring practice because the duties can change significantly. Some coaches would prefer to maximize the practice time with their entire team instead of part of it.

“They sit there and watch these boys go through the spring ball and ask themselves which this player will be here in autumn,” said TCU trainer Sonny Dykes. “Suddenly a player has a good spring game, and now this is a negotiating tool for” I want this or I want that or I have to go to the portal. “

According to Dykes, changing the time when practices occur outside the season would be logical if the players can still be transferred in spring.

“If you want to expand the College Football playoff, if you want to keep the (spring) transfer portal, I think the spring polster probably doesn't make much sense,” said Dykes. “Perhaps the first three weeks of June are now starting where they have OTAs for these three weeks and receive 15 options. … the way it is currently furnished is really quite silly. “

Sumrall proposed to divide the 15 exercises in spring and summer. NCAA statutes are currently determining that these 15 practices are carried out within 34 days.

“If you said:” Hey, you get 15 days, use them if you want, “I would probably use six or seven or eight in summer and six or seven in summer in spring,” he said. “I was able to divid them into two segments.”

The squad and injuries played for a long time in the livelihood of spring games. Since the players have graduated and picked them out and not all newcomers have arrived, this can lead to bottlenecks at certain positions, especially on the scrimmage, which makes a game so harder.

What are the value of spring exercises and a spring game in 2025?

Count Houston coach Willie Fritz among those who still believe in the value of spring practice. In 2024, in his first year with the Cougars, he concentrated on the basis and lessons players and his employees as he wanted. This year it is about integrating 29 new scholarship players into the team.

“It enables you to see what you have, what guys can do, what you can't do,” said Fritz. “They get into technology and basics. You can work with everyone. … if you have 100 people out there, the 100th type may get almost as many repetitions as the first type. “

Sumrall estimated that his team will only return two offensive starters and four in defense. Spring practice is therefore essential for Tulane.

“I don't have the luxury of going out and buying the players of everyone else because my zero situation does not allow it,” he said. “So I have to develop guys.”

The spring game itself is an important opportunity for the program to connect with its fans. Many of them offer free admission – important for fans who cannot jump for expensive home games in autumn. Schools often build up the day for a spring game, offer family-friendly activities, the chances of interacting with the team or organizing jumping sports on the campus before or after or after. Sumrall said Tulane had a long pusty chef and invites the families of the players to participate.

One size may not fit for everyone. Traditional spring practice can still work for programs whose seasons end in November or December. A different approach could be required for teams who play in the national championship.

Regardless of what the spring game will look like in the future, the need for practice remains, said Sumrall.

“Let yourself be known that football training is good for a good football team,” he said. “No matter whether you give me it in spring or after the second transmission portal window, I will adapt, I will develop. Don't take all of my practices away.

“This is a development game. We have to practice football if they tell me that in March, April, June, whatever we will find out. “

(Pototo by Matt Rhule: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)