Earlier this year, Colorado pushed the NCAA with a bold proposal to let Deion Sanders’ squad face an actual opponent in an annual spring game.
The idea made perfect sense to fans who wanted something more competitive than the traditional intrasquad scrimmage, but the NCAA ultimately shot it down, sticking with the usual format.
Still, the buzz around the concept hasn’t faded. During Rick George’s recent appearance on Thee Pregame Show, one fan took the opportunity to press the Colorado AD for updates.
The fan asked if there had been any movement on the plan for next year’s spring game and even tossed in a suggestion, pointing out that since Colorado doesn’t play in-state rival Colorado State for another five years, maybe they could be the perfect spring matchup.
The question made George smile, but it also showed just how much excitement remains around the idea of seeing the Buffs face off against real competition.
Rick George on Colorado State Spring Game Idea
When asked if Colorado could face Colorado State in a future spring game, Rick George didn’t dismiss the idea but pointed to the NCAA as the hurdle.
“Well, you can nominate. Maybe you need to lobby the NCAA and the football oversight committee and have them put in a rule that you can have an OTA kind of like they do in the pros,” George explained.
He added that in such a setup, teams could hold a few joint practices before capping it off with a spring game against each other.
Since Colorado and Colorado State won’t meet in the regular season for several years, fans have been vocal about wanting that rivalry spark sooner.
While George made it clear the decision isn’t in his hands, he left the door open for creative possibilities if the NCAA ever chooses to allow spring games against outside opponents.
The Costs of Distant Spring Game Opponents
Colorado Athletic Director Rick George addressed the idea of playing an outside opponent in next year’s spring game, but he was quick to point out the challenges. The biggest issue? Cost.
“If it’s a long-distance one, it really doesn’t make sense because if you think of the travel costs, there’s $250,000 at least in airfare and different things like that,” George explained.
He emphasized that while fans may love the idea, the expenses make it unrealistic unless the opponent is close by. A local matchup would cut costs dramatically and make the logistics far more doable.
Still, even with those budgets, George reminded everyone that the decision isn’t in Colorado’s hands.
The NCAA would first need to approve any spring game featuring another team, and until that happens, the Buffaloes will have to stick with the traditional in-house scrimmage format.