Syracuse football eyes spring game with Colorado, Deion Sanders in 2026, Fran Brown says

It's not happening this spring for Syracuse football, but next year it could.

What I'm talking about here is a spring game between the Orange and Big 12 Conference member Colorado, which is led by ace recruiter and head coach Deion Sanders, the former Hall of Fame player who recently got a rather lucrative contract extension.

The two programs, through their respective compliance offices, had filed paperwork with the NCAA to hopefully win approval to hold joint practices and a scrimmage together in Boulder, Colo., this month.

Late last week, though, the NCAA's FBS oversight committee said that it was advising the NCAA's staff to oppose granting a waiver for these joint practices and a scrimmage among the 'Cuse and the Buffaloes to occur. The committee cited numerous reasons for its recommendation.

In a post on X from Syracuse.com's Javon Edmonds, he wrote that Orange head coach Fran Brown, a top-flight recruiter in his own right, will attempt to hold a spring game with Colorado in 2026, and I'm all for that.

My fingers are crossed that Syracuse football and Colorado can scrimmage next spring.

The FBS oversight committee said that the timing of this waiver request, when many programs are well into their spring-practice schedule, was a factor in why the committee was recommending a waiver not be granted.

The committee also noted potential competitive and recruiting advantages for the participants, and the possible "academic impact associated with student-athletes missing class time to participate
in practice activities."

As much as I despise the NCAA, I actually understand and respect these reasons. Per Edmonds' post on X, Brown says he "understands the FBS Oversight Committee’s stance on not recommending a waiver for this year."

Next spring, all college football programs would have an equal opportunity, so to speak, in trying to hold their own scrimmages against fellow teams. While some college squads have canceled their spring games, due to concerns over tampering and potential injuries, Brown has made it clear that he won't be doing that.

And how fun would it be to see these two awesome head coaches go toe to toe next spring? They led their respective programs to top-25 rankings in the 2024 campaign, and to me, each head coach has an electric personality.

As Colorado and the 'Cuse carry on their spring practices, the Buffaloes' spring game is set for April 19, while Syracuse football is expected to hold its annual spring game on April 12, beginning at 3:00 pm at the JMA Wireless Dome.