The NCAA football landscape is ever-changing in the age of transfers and name, image and likeness deals.
According to University of Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, the annual spring game may be the latest casualty in this new era.
Rhule told reporters on Saturday that he “highly doubts” that his Cornhuskers would play an official spring game this year. The former coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers said he’s worried about other programs poaching his players.
“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. I don’t [want] these guys all being able to watch our guys and say, ‘Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”
College football’s spring games — intrasquad scrimmages — are often live-streamed for fans and open to the public, acting as revenue generators for athletic departments and keeping supporters engaged during the offseason.
The Cornhuskers’ 2024 spring game attracted more than 60,000 fans and aired on the Big Ten Network.
“I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that,” Rhule said. “To go out and bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for all the other schools to watch doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”
Rhule’s justification didn’t impress disgruntled college football fans who took to social media to share their concerns.
“Come on, this is weak. If you truly believe your program is a destination, yet you can’t retain players who perform well in a scrimmage, maybe it’s time to take a hard look in the mirror,” sports fan Jimmy Waters posted on X. “The issue might not be external — it could be your own program falling short.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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