College Football Spring Games Slowly Returning, But Some Coaches Remain Cautious

While programs embrace spring games again, coaches like Lane Kiffin are still wary of the risks.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college football spring game, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives capturing the dynamic energy of the event.The return of college football spring games brings a mix of excitement and caution as programs navigate the transfer portal era.Knoxville Today

After the disruption caused by the NCAA's spring transfer portal window, college football programs are starting to bring back traditional spring games. However, some high-profile coaches like Lane Kiffin remain cautious about the potential risks, while others like Deion Sanders are embracing the return of the spring game tradition.

Why it matters

Spring games provide an important opportunity for programs to engage with fans and promote their teams, but the transfer portal era led many schools to scale back or eliminate these events due to roster uncertainty and injury concerns. As the transfer portal calendar has changed, some schools are bringing back spring games, though coaches have varying perspectives on the value and risks.

The details

The transfer portal disrupted the tradition of spring games, as players would often leave programs right before these events to pursue better NIL deals or playing time elsewhere. This roster uncertainty led many schools to replace spring games with more limited fan events or scrimmages. Now, with changes to the transfer portal calendar, some programs are bringing back spring games, but coaches like Lane Kiffin of LSU remain wary of the risks, citing the financial investment in rosters and potential for injuries. Others, like Deion Sanders at Jackson State, are embracing the return of spring games.

  • The NCAA introduced a spring transfer portal window in recent years.
  • Many schools scaled back or eliminated spring games during the transfer portal era.

The players

Lane Kiffin

The head football coach at Louisiana State University (LSU).

Deion Sanders

The head football coach at Jackson State University.

Nico Iamaleava

A former quarterback at the University of Tennessee who left the program just one day before the Vols' spring game.

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What they’re saying

“I just stopped the spring game a few years ago. It was on TV, and you're giving that, because there was another portal coming up, so you were basically giving people evaluations of your players, especially your newer ones, and how they're doing. And then it became that, on top of the financial piece of how much you're investing in [players] now, and how significant injuries are, and looking at the big picture of that, I just feel like it's not worth it.”

— Lane Kiffin, Head Football Coach, LSU

“We're going to do it like we've been doing it. We are probably going to be out there an hour.”

— Deion Sanders, Head Football Coach, Jackson State

What’s next

Television networks like Peacock, ESPN+, SEC Network+, and the Big Ten Network are planning to broadcast or stream select college football spring games in the coming weeks, giving fans a chance to see their teams in action before the fall season.

The takeaway

The return of college football spring games is a mixed bag, with some coaches embracing the tradition while others remain cautious about the risks. This reflects the broader changes in the sport, as programs navigate the transfer portal era and seek to balance fan engagement with roster stability and injury prevention.