College football is evolving, and this transformation extends into the ways the sport manages its offseason routine.
The landscape of college football increasingly mirrors that of the NFL, with longer schedules and a semblance of “free agency.” In this shift, spring games are falling by the wayside. This was a topic of discussion for Paul Finebaum after Alabama decided against broadcasting its annual A-Day Game.
“I get it, I really do,” Finebaum shared on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.” “But it’s a bit of a letdown for fans. You wouldn’t believe the number of times people have called to chat about a surprising performance at an Auburn or Alabama spring game, whether it be a wide receiver or a running back doing something remarkable.”
He continued, “These games used to be a big spring highlight, even though we might have overanalyzed them. Now, they just don’t hold the same weight. For fans, the experience and participation are what mattered. And for many walk-ons, these were their career-defining moments, shared on national TV. But things have simply changed.”
Finebaum also pointed out that TV networks have largely pulled back on showcasing these spring games.
“They aren’t given the spotlight like before,” he noted. “Last year, Alabama was one of the few SEC teams that still aired on a major network.”
In recent efforts, most games are now streamed digitally. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it’s a departure from the spotlight they enjoyed 15 or 20 years ago.
The era when spring games heralded the unofficial start of the college football season seems to be over. However, many fans might gladly trade that nostalgia for the thrill of more expansive Playoff formats and the vibrant atmosphere of fall Saturdays.
