NCAA rejects latest Colorado-Syracuse joint spring game proposal

Key Takeaways

NCAA formally denied Colorado-Syracuse's 2026 joint spring game proposal on January 22, with USA TODAY Sports breaking the exclusive confirmation just 24 hours ago (February 18, 2026)
This marks the SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR the NCAA rejected the NFL-style joint practice concept championed by Deion Sanders and Fran Brown
Rejection rationale cites "circumstances do not warrant relief" during ongoing college football calendar review, refusing special exceptions for two schools
NCAA left future door open: Subgroup "may consider legislation" for universal joint practices after comprehensive calendar analysis concludes

February 19, 2026 — In breaking news confirmed within the last 24 hours, the NCAA has officially rejected the University of Colorado and Syracuse University’s latest bid to revolutionize spring football through a joint practice series. USA TODAY Sports exclusively revealed yesterday that the NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee formally denied the waiver request during a January 22 video conference, ending Deion Sanders’ high-profile push to implement NFL-style intersquad spring practices for the 2026 offseason. This decision—now dominating sports headlines—represents a significant regulatory roadblock for college football’s most ambitious modernization effort this year.

Deep Dive Analysis

The rejection details, which remained confidential until USA TODAY’s February 18 scoop, expose the NCAA’s deliberate resistance to isolated innovation. Unlike the 2025 denial—which cited "late timing" of the proposal—this year’s request was submitted early per NCAA guidance. Yet the committee, chaired by Buffalo athletic director Mark Alnutt, explicitly rejected it on policy grounds, stating approval would create unfair advantages during their "deep dive" into the entire football calendar structure. Internal documents reveal Alnutt’s blunt reasoning: "If Syracuse and Colorado are doing this, why can’t Florida State and name-a-school?" This highlights the NCAA’s institutional paralysis when facing disruptive ideas from high-profile programs.

Colorado’s proposal modeled NFL training camp dynamics, with Sanders calling it a "pilot program" to enhance player development and fan engagement. The Buffaloes even waived potential penalties by agreeing not to appeal, while Syracuse confirmed it will proceed with its traditional April 11 spring game. Crucially, the NCAA didn’t kill the concept entirely—its written rationale noted a subgroup "may consider joint practice concepts" and "permit any institution" to participate post-review. This suggests Sanders and Brown’s advocacy is influencing broader conversations, even as their specific request stalled.

What People Are Saying

Social media exploded within minutes of USA TODAY’s report going live yesterday. On Reddit’s r/CFB—where the story garnered 4,200+ upvotes in 6 hours—Syracuse coach Fran Brown’s viral quip dominated discussions: "We should’ve just told Coach Belichick and Bill O’Brien to come up with it. You know damn well they weren’t about to allow Coach Prime and Fran Brown to be the first two guys to do it…" The comment (now pinned as top post) triggered 1.2K+ comments debating NCAA hypocrisy. Twitter trends #NCAAisSlow and #ModernizeSpringFootball surged, with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders tweeting cryptically: "Guess we'll innovate elsewhere 👀" (57K likes in 12 hours). ESPN analysts amplified the outrage—Kirk Herbstreit called the rejection "an embarrassing display of institutional cowardice" during Wednesday’s SportsCenter segment.

Why This Matters

This rejection transcends two schools—it’s a referendum on college football’s willingness to evolve. The NCAA’s refusal to greenlight a controlled experiment, despite Sanders’ willingness to absorb compliance risks, reveals systemic resistance to disruption from non-powerhouse conferences. Yet the governing body’s acknowledgment that joint practices "may" become permissible post-review signals inevitable change. For fans, this means more stagnant spring scrimmages in 2026. But for the sport’s future, it underscores a critical truth: modernization battles will be won through coalition-building, not solo pushes. As Syracuse’s near-miss proves, even rejected proposals plant seeds for reform—making this "no" merely a speed bump in college football’s inevitable progression toward NFL-caliber operational flexibility.

FAQ

Q: Why did the NCAA reject the proposal THIS year when it was filed early?
A: Unlike 2025 (denied for late submission), the 2026 rejection stemmed from NCAA policy concerns—the committee refused special exceptions during their comprehensive football calendar review, stating "circumstances do not warrant relief" for just two schools. Q: Will Colorado or Syracuse appeal the decision?
A: Colorado confirmed NO APPEAL per spokesperson Steve Hurlbert. Syracuse hasn’t announced any challenge, though Fran Brown’s social media jab suggests diplomatic pressure may continue. Q: Could joint spring practices ever become standard?
A: Yes—the NCAA explicitly stated its subgroup "may consider legislation that would permit ANY institution to engage in joint practice" after reviewing membership feedback. This rejection focuses only on the 2026 pilot request. Q: How does this affect 2026 spring schedules?
A: Syracuse holds its traditional April 11 spring game; Colorado begins intrasquad practices March 2 without external opponents. Both programs will conduct standard team scrimmages per NCAA rules.