- NCAA. Arch Manning receives strong message from a former Heisman Trophy winner amid doubts over his Texas career
- NCAA. Drew Brees backs Shedeur Sanders' NFL readiness as QB confirms he will on Draft Ceremony
The landscape of college football has been shifting rapidly, and traditional events that once seemed untouchable are now being reconsidered. Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has made a decision that could mark a significant shift in how top programs handle their offseason-one that will directly impact new starting quarterback Arch Manning.
Speaking with Kay Adams, Sarkisian confirmed that Texas will no longer hold a spring game, opting instead for a different approach to player development. "No, we're not going to have a spring game," Sarkisian stated, signaling a departure from a long-standing tradition just as Manning steps into the spotlight.
The reason behind the move? A combination of evolving player management strategies and growing concerns about external interference in roster building. Sarkisian pointed to the structure of NFL offseason training programs, such as OTAs, as a model for what Texas plans to implement moving forward. "So it's going to be a little bit different approach," he explained, hinting at a more controlled, internal structure for spring workouts.
Texas is far from alone in making this adjustment. The USC Trojans recently scrapped their spring game in favor of a fan appreciation event. Nebraska also considered eliminating its spring game over concerns about tampering before ultimately pulling the plug. Even powerhouse programs like Ohio State have experimented with alternative formats as college football continues to evolve.
College football is changing rapidly
The growing issue of tampering has played a major role in these decisions. With the transfer portal opening soon after spring practices, standout players-especially quarterbacks-can quickly become targets for other programs looking to poach talent. By eliminating public spring games, teams are limiting outside exposure and protecting their rosters from unwanted recruitment efforts.
For Texas, the timing makes sense beyond just tampering concerns. After making a deep College Football Playoff run last season, the Longhorns played 16 games-a grueling stretch that raised concerns about player fatigue. Sarkisian had already hinted at a revamped offseason schedule to manage wear-and-tear, and eliminating the spring game appears to be a direct response to that challenge.
With Arch Manning set to take over under center, this shift will reshape how the highly anticipated quarterback prepares for his first full season as Texas' starter. It also raises a bigger question: Is the traditional spring game becoming a thing of the past? As coaches adjust to the modern era of college football, it wouldn't be surprising to see even more powerhouse programs follow Texas' lead.