The NCAA Is Expected To Approve Groundbreaking Football Scrimmage

03/27/2025 06:59 PM

Deion Sanders' idea for a spring game could become a reality. 

Earlier this month, Sanders said he proposed Colorado turning the annual spring game into a scrimmage against another team. After Sanders revealed that desire in a press conference, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown publicly volunteered to play Colorado. 

This week, the two programs filed paperwork for the NCAA to approve scheduled joint practices in Boulder before competing in a scrimmage. They must receive a waiver, as football programs are currently prohibited from scrimmaging against other teams in the offseason.

Courtesy of BuffZone's Brian Howell, the schools expect to receive an answer from the NCAA's oversight committee next week. Colorado athletic director Rick George expressed optimism about getting clearance to play the scrimmage.

"We wouldn't have submitted it if we didn't think there was a legitimate chance for us to get that (waiver)," George said. "I think that there's a really good chance it could happen."

George is on board with the "exciting and fun" concept.

"I think this is a great idea for college football," George said. "You've got some schools out there looking at not playing a spring game. We're looking at playing a spring game that's going to drive more fans in here in the spring time that get excited about your program. And maybe the networks start covering more spring games and there's a monetary value to that that schools can recoup. So I think (Sanders') idea is brilliant, and I support it."

Nebraska and Texas are among the prominent football programs to cancel their spring games amid concerns of competitors using them as opportunities to scout players and recruit them to transfer.

However, Sanders opposed the idea of foregoing spring games. He believes scrimmaging against another school would "tremendously" satisfy fans.

Brown also jumped at the idea of playing Colorado in a spring showcase.

"Nobody wants to have spring games anymore," Brown said. "Nobody wants to worry about the portal. ...I'm just confident in who I am and what I do for the players."

Before this potential plan developed, ESPN2 announced that it would televise Colorado's spring game on Saturday, April 19, at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Related: Deion Sanders Is Trying To Pull Off A Unique Spring Game Move