College football is in the midst of more change than it has experienced in years.
At SEC spring meetings, many proposed changes and ideas have been discussed among the conference’s coaches, athletic directors and presidents.
College Football Playoff formats, preparation for the impending House settlement and the length of the football conference schedule are just a few of the hot button issues being discussed, but aren’t the only major talking points in the sport.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze spoke to reporters Tuesday, and was asked what he wants the sport to look like five to ten years down the road. The question was broad, but Freeze brought up a few different issues.
“The first thing that pops in my mind is just, can we all play under the same set of rules and tell us exactly what that is?” Freeze questioned.
The impending House settlement is a major part of the cloud of uncertainty that currently hovers above college football. If it’s approved, it would open the door for revenue sharing, causing major changes to budgets and how players can be compensated.
Since players have been able to profit off their name, image and likeness starting in 2021, there have been little to no guidelines on NIL and enforcement of the few existing rules has been rare.
Revenue sharing would create a clearer system for schools to compensate players directly, something that’s not allowed under the current system.
While a general level of order is No. 1 on Freeze’s college football wish list, he mentioned a few other things that have garnered attention during spring meetings.
“Trying to figure out exactly what the 12-month calendar is, exactly right, and trying to figure out exactly what the playoffs look like,” Freeze said. “Those are, I think, very important things for our sport to keep it growing and exciting.”
Freeze has been vocal about multiple aspects of the college football calendar, advocating for change to the transfer portal window and the spring practice period.
On the topic of the transfer portal, Freeze said he’d like for college football to move to one window in January. Currently, college football has two transfer portal windows: one 20-day window in December and one 10-day window in April.
The only exceptions are for graduate transfers (who can enter the portal at any time), players who underwent head coaching changes (who get a 30-day window following their coach’s departure) and a five-day extension for players following their bowl games.
“Number one thing is, we want to get it out of December. It’s not right,” Freeze said at the Senior Bowl in January. “What we’re doing to our teams and our kids with bowl prep and everything, and people able to go in the portal, and you’re sitting at home on Christmas Eve and you’re getting — that is ridiculous, if anyone thinks we should still have it in December.”
Throughout this offseason, Freeze has advocated for college football to get rid of the current spring practice format, instead opting an NFL-style OTA period during June. A big reason as to why Freeze is in favor of those changes is the number of players who normally miss spring ball due to injury.
“Every year you’re going to have these surgeries in January or February from the season and then you’re without those guys,” Freeze said after Auburn’s first spring practice of 2025. “I wish we could just train and do our individual work that we did like in February and then us have some OTAs in June, during that first part of June, where you have everybody.”
The SEC will continue spring meetings through Thursday in Miramar Beach Fl., where discussions about many of the topics Freeze mentioned and others will continue to be discussed.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at@peter_rauterkusor email him atprauterkus@al.com
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