Deion Sanders has been floating the idea of lining up across from Fran Brown and the Syracuse Orange, turning what’s supposed to be a routine spring practice into something that actually feels like football. Last year, the two programs approached the NCAA for their permission. The governing body responded with a firm no. They tried again this year, hoping for a different answer. 

The answer didn’t change. Last year, the Division I FBS oversight committee pointed to timing, saying that the request came in March, when many programs had already started or even wrapped spring practice.

It “wouldn’t be fair,” the committee argued, to give two schools an opportunity others didn’t have. So Colorado and Syracuse Orange football adjusted. They filed earlier. They tried to eliminate the technical excuse. But during a January 22 video conference, the same committee denied the waiver again. This time, the language was a bit off.

“Circumstances do not warrant relief of the legislation,” the NCAA wrote, saying that the rule currently prohibits joint spring practices. When pressed, an NCAA spokeswoman said, [they] “didn’t want to approve outside competition in the spring without a more complete review of the calendar.”

So, it’s not just about Colorado and Syracuse anymore. They are reviewing the entire FBS football structure, including the conference realignment, travel demands, and even the fact that teams will only get one bye week in 2026. The committee didn’t want to give out an exception for two programs.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

And yet, the door isn’t fully shut. The NCAA admitted that it “may consider joint practice concepts” during its review and could eventually introduce legislation allowing any programs to participate. But Colorado won’t appeal, spokesperson Steve Hurlbert confirmed.

Brown had said last year on The Rich Eisen Show, “I think it’s gonna go through next year possibly.”

It didn’t. Their vision of a pilot program, similar to the NFL model with fewer intra-squad matchups, remains on the back burner. Which makes you wonder, was this ever just about one spring game?

Deion Sanders’ joint spring game idea created buzz last year

Last spring, before anyone even knew this idea would turn into a two-year fight, Deion Sanders was already irritated. Ahead of Colorado’s spring game, he circled back to the NCAA’s denial, saying, “I think it hurt the ticket sales when they said we weren’t going to get that scrimmage against Syracuse. I wish we had,” he said. Then added, “Hopefully, we get it a year from now, when somebody else thinks of it besides coach Fran Brown and me. Let them do it first.”

He was hurt when he tried doing something different and was told to wait for his turn. What made it intriguing was the support. Around the country, other coaches quietly acknowledged there might be something there. Mike Norvell was asked about it and didn’t dismiss it.

“I think it’s definitely something that is unique in thought process,” he said, pointing to how NFL teams use joint practices in fall camp.

“There’s definitely an avenue and a path where that could be beneficial… that’s something that I wouldn’t be opposed to.” He did add the practical warning that “a lot of the logistical elements and different dynamics that run into this new age of college football,” but he even admitted, “I think there’s some merit to it.” That helped because suddenly this wasn’t just a Sanders idea.

And that’s the thing. The NFL already lives this way. But college football, often resistant to change, has yet to adopt the practice. Sanders kept saying spring scrimmages against your guys “kind of get monotonous.”

He wanted to “style it like the pros” and practice together for a few days. Last year, it sounded like a bold experiment. Now, after back-to-back denials, it feels more like a challenge to the system.