More and more college football teams are canceling spring games. Here’s why Memphis isn’t

Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield never considered it.

While college football teams around the country are moving away from traditional spring games, Silverfield said he always planned to hold one this year.

“My number one thing is, ‘Can we put on a showcase for our fans?’ We’ve got the best fans in the country, and a lot of them look forward to that,” Silverfield said Tuesday after Memphis’ first spring practice.

The Tigers will play their spring game on April 26 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Silverfield said he wanted to play the spring game for two main reasons: First, to showcase the new players and create a unique experience for fans, and second to give his players another day of competition in a different setting.

“It’s another added true competition practice,” he said. “I mean, it’s a scrimmage. And it’s another opportunity. And if we’re going to go out there at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and scrimmage, let’s let the fans look at it. Let’s let them see it, let them be a part of what this is. Hopefully they come away and say, ‘Man, there’s some really impressive players. We want to be a part of that.’ “

SMU became the latest program to announce it won’t have a spring game when coach Rhett Lashlee said Tuesday that the Mustangs would instead hold an open practice at the end of the spring practice window. Other teams that won’t hold a spring game include Texas, Southern Cal and Nebraska.

Coaches have cited various reasons for canceling spring games, including injury risk and the potential for other teams to get a look at players when they can still enter the transfer portal. Memphis’ spring game will take place after the portal window is closed.

Silverfield said he was a little surprised to see so many teams canceling their spring games.

“I wish more teams would do it, because I think it’s great for fans,” he said.

How Memphis football is handling expectations

The story during the spring will be about how many new faces the Tigers have, with longtime program stalwarts like quarterback Seth Henigan and receiver Roc Taylor off to the NFL draft. Memphis brought in a plethora of players in the transfer portal, so the Tigers will still have high expectations heading into the 2025 season.

Memphis went 11-2 in 2024 but will have new starters at almost every position.

“Whether people thought last year was a good season or not doesn’t matter,” Silverfield said. “We’ve got to be better. And guess what? Next year if we win 12, 13 games, the following year’s got to be better. We’ve always got to set the bar higher and continue to compete.”

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.