As college football prepares for changes, programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision are adjusting to a 105-man roster limit. Craig Bohl, the Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association, anticipates a future where the NCAA might introduce NFL-style joint practices and scrimmages.
“I think if some programs give it a try, this idea could really take off,” Bohl mentioned in a discussion with The Associated Press.
The idea gained traction after Colorado’s coach, Deion Sanders, proposed that schools host teams from other institutions for a series of joint practices, followed by an exhibition match. He sees this as a potential substitute for the traditional intrasquad spring games. Syracuse’s coach, Fran Brown, showed his support through a social media post, indicating he’d happily take his team to Colorado for a few days.
Regarding whether Colorado had formally approached the relevant bodies for permission, CU athletics spokesperson Steve Hulbert stated via text to the AP, “We’re in discussions with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. No updates at this time.”
Bohl noted that there’s significant interest among coaches to start these joint practices this spring. The catalyst is the impending 105-man roster cap, expected to be solidified soon, following the House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit settlement.
Normally, FBS teams have around 128 players, but with the upcoming limits, coaches are keen to explore solutions to ease the burden on their rosters. Scrimmages with teams from other conferences, especially those that won’t meet during the season, could be a viable answer. For teams eyeing the extended College Football Playoff season, this approach is particularly enticing.
Bohl did raise some concerns, one being the exposure of players to scouts from other teams, potentially leading to tampering.
“One coach asked me, ‘Is this wise? With their general manager watching, they could scout our players.’ It’s a tricky situation,” Bohl explained.
Nebraska’s coach, Matt Rhule, canceled the Cornhuskers’ spring game partly due to worries about other teams scouting his players and potentially luring them through the transfer portal. Rhule, drawing from his experience coaching the Carolina Panthers, supports the idea of joint practices. However, he remains skeptical about imminent rule changes.
“If anyone can make it happen, Coach Sanders can,” Rhule remarked, noting how persuasive both Sanders and Brown can be. “I’d definitely consider all the opportunities if it comes to fruition.”
Oklahoma State’s coach, Mike Gundy, expressed a similar openness to change, suggesting a possible revival of the Bedlam rivalry with Oklahoma under these new rules. He envisions alternating annual practice sessions with the Sooners instead of a spring game, sharing ticket revenue for name, image, and likeness (NIL) efforts.
“We’re moving closer to the NFL model, so why not adopt this?” Gundy stated. “It’s a solid idea.”
Such changes could attract significant attention. When Oklahoma exited the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference last year, it ended a rivalry that spanned over a century.
Gundy detailed a potential plan for this year’s schedule: the Cowboys could practice with Oklahoma on April 12, coinciding with an event replacing Oklahoma’s spring game. The following week, Oklahoma could travel to Oklahoma State to substitute for the Cowboys’ spring game.
