NCAA Denies Colorado-Syracuse Joint Spring Game Proposal

Deion Sanders and Fran Brown won't meet in 2026 as planned.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The NCAA has rejected a waiver request from the University of Colorado and Syracuse University that would have allowed the two football programs to hold joint spring practices in 2026. The NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee cited an ongoing review of the college football calendar as the reason for denying the request, which was modeled after joint practices in the NFL.

Why it matters

The proposed joint practices between Colorado and Syracuse, led by high-profile coaches Deion Sanders and Fran Brown, were seen as a potential pilot program to modernize spring football. The NCAA's denial preserves the current restrictions on spring practices between FBS programs, at least for now.

The details

Under current NCAA rules, spring games or practices between two FBS programs are prohibited unless specific relief is granted. Colorado and Syracuse had sought a waiver to hold joint practices in 2026, similar to what NFL teams do during training camp. However, the NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee voted to reject the request, citing an ongoing review of the college football calendar and not wanting to grant an exception for just two schools.

  • The NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee voted to deny the waiver request during a January 22, 2026 video conference.
  • Colorado was planning to open spring practice on March 2, 2026.
  • Syracuse was scheduled to hold its annual spring game on April 11, 2026.

The players

Deion Sanders

Head football coach at the University of Colorado.

Fran Brown

Head football coach at Syracuse University.

Mark Alnutt

Chair of the NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee and athletic director at the University at Buffalo.

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What they’re saying

“Circumstances do not warrant relief of the legislation.”

— NCAA (USA TODAY Sports)

“Deion and I were hoping to pilot a program that could potentially modernize spring football.”

— Fran Brown, Head Football Coach, Syracuse University (Sporting News)

What’s next

The NCAA left open the possibility of future changes, noting a subgroup may consider legislation that would permit joint practices across the membership.

The takeaway

The NCAA's denial of the Colorado-Syracuse joint spring practice proposal preserves the current restrictions on such arrangements, at least for now, as the governing body conducts a broader review of the college football calendar and structure of spring practice.