Deion Sanders sends clear message to NCAA over Spring Game hypocrisy originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Deion Sanders has never been one to follow tradition. As the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, he’s constantly pushing for new standards and looking for ways to elevate the game of college football.
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The proposal for a joint practice and scrimmage between Colorado and Syracuse was part of that logic. An idea modeled after the NFL’s preseason format, where teams hold joint practices to build competitiveness. But the NCAA wasn’t ready to make it happen.
Sanders still wants to be the first to make history. But expressed his true feelings on the matter while taking took a shot at the NCAA during a recent podcast appearance.
“They weren’t about to let two brothers do it first. You know that,” Sanders told Asante Samuel on ‘Say What Needs to be Said’. “You think they are going to let me and coach Fran (Brown) do it first? You know that wasn’t going to happen. C’mon now, first? We were going to have a study hall together. We were going to have everything. And we were going to incorporate speakers to come in for the whole team, both teams together. We were going to be family. Then we practice together just like the pros. A joint practice.”
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The response prompted Samuel to ask, “How do you say ‘no’ to that? That sounds so amazing.” Sanders replied by saying, “Because I shouldn’t have thought of it. I should have slid it to Belichick.”
Earlier this year, the Football Bowl Subdivision oversight committee denied a waiver request from Colorado and Syracuse that would have allowed the two schools to hold joint spring practices and a scrimmage.
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The NCAA cited concerns about timing, competitive balance in recruiting, and academic conflicts as reasons for shutting down the idea. To Sanders, though, it felt like a missed opportunity and a moment where college football could have taken a leap forward.
“The way the trend is going is, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game,” Sanders said back in April. “To have it competitive, and to play against your own guys, it can get kind of monotonous, and you really can’t tell the level of your guys.”
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What frustrates Sanders is the inconsistency in NCAA rules. Division II programs are permitted to hold spring scrimmages against outside opponents without athletes losing a season of eligibility. But that same flexibility doesn’t exist in Division I, even though the potential for athlete development and fan engagement is arguably greater.
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Despite the NCAA’s decision, Sanders remains committed to the vision. He wants to be the first to make it happen, and Syracuse head coach Fran Brown is all in.
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As college football continues to evolve with NIL deals and conference realignment, Sanders’ proposal feels more timely than ever. A joint spring game between two Power Four schools could attract massive media attention and generate excitement during the offseason.
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There’s no denying Sanders is a visionary when it comes to the business of sports. He stays ahead of the curve and is one of the biggest advocates for a better product to entertain the fans.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
