Alright, let’s dig into this one like we’re breaking down a trick play on third-and-long. Deion Sanders, the flashiest coach in college football, dropped a bombshell at his Monday presser that’s got everyone talking: he wants the Colorado Buffaloes to ditch the usual intrasquad spring game and face off against another team instead. We’re talking April 19, 4:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN2 at Folsom Field. “Prime Time” isn’t just looking to shake up Boulder—he’s aiming to save the whole tradition of spring games, which are starting to feel like an endangered species in college football. But can his big idea really turn the tide? Let’s unpack it.
Sanders isn’t wrong about the monotony of spring games as they stand. “Playing against your own guys gets kind of monotonous,” he said, “and you really can’t tell the levels of your guys. It’s the same old, same old.” He’s got a point—watching your offense slug it out against your own defense is like playing a pickup game with your cousins. You know their moves, they know yours, and after a while, it’s less about competition and more about going through the motions. Sanders wants to crank up the heat by bringing in an outside opponent, NFL-style—think joint practices followed by a full-on scrimmage. It’s bold, it’s fresh, and it’s pure Deion: all about the spotlight and the swagger.
The backdrop here is grim, though. Spring games are dropping like flies across the Power Four. ESPN clocked 19 programs axing theirs this year alone, and heavy hitters are leading the charge. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule pulled the plug, spooked that recruiters from rival schools might swoop in during the spring transfer portal window—April 16 to 25—and cherry-pick his talent. Texas’ Steve Sarkisian waved off the Longhorns’ game too, citing wear and tear after 30 games over two years, including back-to-back College Football Playoff runs. The expanded 12-team CFP format last season stretched schedules thin, and with the transfer portal churning and NIL deals in the mix, coaches are rethinking every move. Spring games, once a fan-friendly tune-up, are starting to feel like a luxury some teams can’t afford.
Sanders sees it differently. “We’ve got to sell this thing out and pack this thing,” he said, “because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game. I don’t believe in that. I don’t really condone that.” He’s not just fighting for Colorado here—he’s throwing a lifeline to a tradition he thinks still has juice. And he’s got the pull to make it a spectacle. His first spring game in Boulder back in 2023 drew 47,000 fans and 551,000 viewers on ESPN—numbers that dwarfed the 1,950 who trickled in for free the year before he arrived. Last year’s game still packed in over 28,000 despite a soggy day. The “Prime Effect” is real, and he knows how to turn a sleepy scrimmage into must-see TV.
Here’s where it gets intriguing: Syracuse’s Fran Brown jumped on X Monday and said, “We will come to Boulder for 3 days.” Boom—Sanders has a dance partner. Picture it: the Buffs and the Orange going head-to-head, joint practices heating up the week, then a Saturday showdown that’s less about playbook secrets and more about raw competition. Fans would eat it up—imagine Folsom Field rocking with that kind of energy. It’s not hard to see why it’d draw a crowd. Deion’s already got ESPN2 locked in, and a real opponent could spike those viewership numbers even higher. Plus, it’s a chance for players to strut their stuff against unfamiliar faces—way more telling than banging heads with teammates they’ve already sized up.
But will it save spring games? That’s the million-dollar question. The hurdles are real. For one, the NCAA would need to greenlight this—it’s not in the current rulebook, and college football’s old guard doesn’t exactly move at warp speed. Then there’s the risk factor. Rhule’s not wrong—open up your roster to outsiders, and you’re flashing your depth chart to every coach with a transfer portal wishlist. Sarkisian’s health concerns linger too; an extra game, even a controlled scrimmage, could ding up players before the real season even starts. And not every program’s got Deion’s star power to make it a sellout—without that hype, it’s just another practice with higher stakes and travel costs.
Still, Sanders might be onto something. If he pulls this off—and Syracuse showing up could be the proof of concept—it could spark a ripple effect. Smaller schools might pair up regionally, turning spring into a mini-preseason with real buzz. Fans are starving for more football in the off-season, and this could scratch that itch without tipping too much of the playbook. It’s not a full fix—19 cancellations signal a deeper shift—but it’s a jolt of adrenaline that could keep the tradition breathing. Deion’s not just saving Colorado’s game; he’s daring everyone else to rethink theirs.
So, will it work? Maybe not everywhere, but it’s got a shot in Boulder. Sanders thrives on the big stage, and if anyone can make spring games cool again, it’s him. Syracuse is in, the cameras are rolling, and April 19 could be the day “Prime Time” rewrites the script. Whether it sticks league-wide? That’s a tougher call—college football’s a beast with too many moving parts. But for now, Deion’s got us all watching, and that’s half the battle right there.
