Changes in College Football
College football has become an ever-changing landscape, and that isn’t only limited to what happens between August and January.
With changes across college football, including name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, many programs across the country are choosing to cancel their spring football games.
Seven of the 13 FBS schools in Texas are not having spring games this year, many for the first time. Coaches have cited injury concerns, potential tampering in the spring transfer portal window and a lengthened schedule as reasons why.
“From the moment we were told we didn’t have to, we weren’t having one,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said.
The tradition of spring games dates to the 1800s and was an integral part of the sports calendar, providing teams a chance to test out new rules, settle position battles and sell tickets to packed home crowds.
But now there’s a split opinion across the sport, with many advocating for the games’ demise and others standing strong that the tradition should remain even as the rest of college football continues to change.
“This thought of people recruiting off your roster or some of those things, I’m not buying some of that stuff,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.
Reasons for Canceling Spring Games
Lashlee didn’t feel the need to make a big announcement that SMU would be canceling its spring game this year. He just didn’t feel it was that big of a deal.
“At the end of the day, internally, we don’t get a lot out of it,” he said. “There’s more potential downside than there is upside for it.”
Lashlee acknowledged spring games are great for fans and TV exposure. But when he learned he could instead open up a practice to the public and have it televised, he didn’t see the need for a coordinated scrimmage, especially with the spring transfer portal window.
Coaches don’t want to showcase their schemes or players for opposing coaches to see. The spring transfer portal window is open April 16-25. All of the Texas teams planning for spring games are having them before or during that window.
Last year, more than 900 FBS athletes transferred during the spring window. An extra showcase only opens the door for opposing coaches to target those who perform well.
“The portal’s not the only reason,” Lashlee said. “But it’s not false. We had people last year at our spring game that started offering our guys stuff. It is what it is. They stayed, but you do have issues.”
Support for Spring Games
As much as there’s a contingent of coaches advocating against spring games, there’s still a strong group for them.
Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Houston and Texas State are among the Texas programs treating this spring like any other.
Elko said he doesn’t see the need to make any changes yet because his Aggies’ 2024 schedule looked similar to years past.
“There’s some teams who played real long seasons, and I think there’s a reality to having to redefine what your next offseason looks like with the extended playoff and how many games some teams are playing,” he said. “We’ll continue to have a spring game until we make it to the semifinals, and then we’ll rediscover what our offseason looks like.”
Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire not only backed the spring game tradition, but made the argument to expand it.
He joined the calls led by Colorado coach Deion Sanders to push for offseason joint practices or scrimmages between programs.
“We’re the only level of football that doesn’t have a scrimmage,” said McGuire, a longtime Texas high school football coach. “In high school you’re going to have a scrimmage before you play your first game. You’ve got preseason games and joint practices in the NFL.
“I think it would be good to, at the very least, have a joint practice. Whether it’s A&M, or Texas, or OU, wherever we’re traveling.”
Spring Game Status for Texas FBS Programs
| Program | Spring game status |
|---|---|
| Baylor | No spring game. Hosting youth skills challenge and open practice instead on April 26. |
| Houston | Spring game April 19. |
| North Texas | No spring game. Hosting open practice March 29. |
| Rice | Spring game April 12. |
| Sam Houston | No spring game. |
| SMU | No spring game. Hosting open night practice April 25. |
| TCU | No spring game. |
| Texas | No spring game. Hosting fan appreciation day on April 26. |
| Texas A&M | Spring game April 19. |
| Texas State | Spring game April 12. |
| Texas Tech | Spring game April 19. |
| UTEP | Spring game April 12. |
| UTSA | No spring game. |
Conclusion
The debate about spring games in college football continues, with some coaches advocating for their cancellation and others supporting their continuation. While some teams have canceled their spring games due to injury concerns and the potential impact of the transfer portal, others are choosing to keep the tradition alive.
Ultimately, the decision to hold a spring game or not depends on the individual team and its priorities. As the college football landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how teams adapt and make decisions about their spring games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of spring games in college football?
A: Spring games provide teams with an opportunity to test out new rules, settle position battles, and sell tickets to packed home crowds.
Q: Why are some teams canceling their spring games?
A: Some teams are canceling their spring games due to injury concerns, the potential impact of the transfer portal, and a lengthened schedule.
Q: Which Texas FBS programs are hosting spring games?
A: Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Houston, and Texas State are among the Texas programs hosting spring games.
Q: What is the spring transfer portal window?
A: The spring transfer portal window is open from April 16-25, during which time FBS athletes can transfer to other schools.
