Texas joins growing trend of programs skipping spring games

By Chris Marler

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday that the Longhorns will not hold a spring game this offseason, breaking the news live on the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams.

Texas is the latest team to forgo a spring game, joining a growing trend in college football. Earlier this week, USC announced its decision to do the same, while Nebraska became one of the name brand programs to opt out last month.

The move is, in part, because of the ever-changing landscape of college football, the transfer portal, and NIL. The recent changes in college football, including the transfer portal and NIL policies, have led to widespread tampering in roster management.

Matt Rhule spoke openly about that being a direct cause in their decision to cancel their game in Lincoln. 

“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said. “It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”

A year ago, only five Power Four teams didn’t hold a spring game, and it was primarily teams like Vanderbilt, Minnesota, and Northwestern. This year three college football bluebloods have already followed suit. The question now becomes: how many will follow them?