The process is underway to finalize a spring football scrimmage between Colorado and Syracuse. Both university compliance offices filed necessary paperwork with the NCAA to approve the matchup, according to Syracuse.com. The idea gained traction earlier this week when Deion Sanders made a public call to find an opponent for a live scrimmage in April. Although his preferred target was initially North Carolina and six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick, Syracuse answered the call.
“For us to be the first to do it at two historic schools would mean a lot,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said Friday after practice. “Two African-American men, too. To have the opportunity of doing that means a lot. Especially with [Sanders] being an icon.”
Colorado and Syracuse are scheduled to conclude their spring football practice schedule on April 19. The NCAA allows for 15 practices within a 35-day window during the spring.
Numerous college football programs across the country altered their spring game formats for various reasons, but most notably to manage injuries across their rosters. Ohio State, Texas, NC State, Oklahoma, USC, Nebraska and Florida State are among the programs who have announced no plans for a spring game. Still, Sanders is pushing forward as he enters Year 3 at Colorado.
“Everything should follow a professional structure, as this is what the pros do,” Sanders said this week, via college football analyst Carl Reed. “I’m trying to help salvage spring games and spring football, especially since a multitude of high-profile programs have already canceled their spring games.”
During the NFL preseason, Sanders says, teams get a feel for what they need to iron out ahead of the season by live scrimmaging. That doesn’t happen in college football, but needs to, according to Sanders.
“You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, you know, it’s the same old, same old,” Sanders said. “Everybody kind of knows each other towards the end. I would like to style it like the pros. I would like to practice against someone for a few days, then you have the spring game. And I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously.”
Colorado will look vastly different in 2025 compared to last following the exit of projected first-round picks Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter — two program staples each of the past two seasons. A quarterback battle is brewing in Boulder between freshman phenom Julian Lewis and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. There is a plethora of transfer portal acquisitions trying to find their spot at the top of the depth chart as well.
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Colorado finished 9-4 last season and nationally-ranked after a top-tier finish in the Big 12. The Buffaloes controlled their own destiny for a spot in not only the conference title game but also the College Football Playoff at one point in November.
Brad Crawford contributed to this report.
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