Coaches May Be Open to Deion Sanders Idea For NFL-Style Intersquad Practices and Scrimmages

March 25, 2025

Rick Nyman,

With Football Bowl Subdivision programs planning for a 105-man roster limit this fall, American Football Coaches Association executive director Craig Bohl said he sees the day coming when the NCAA allows NFL-style intersquad practices and scrimmages.

“If a couple programs choose to explore this, I think it’s going to be something that could have some real legs to it,” Bohl told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders recently suggested a school be allowed to host a team from another school for a few days of joint practices before they play an exhibition game, possibly as a replacement for the traditional intrasquad spring game. Syracuse coach Fran Brown, in response to Sanders, said in a social media post he would be willing to take his team to Colorado for a three-day visit.

Asked if Colorado had requested a waiver that would allow for it, CU athletics spokesman Steve Hulbert texted to the AP, “We are working with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. There are currently no updates.”

“Do I really want to expose my guys?” Bohl said a coach asked him. “They’re going to have their general manager out there taking notes on what kind of ability a certain player has. How you get that worked out, I don’t know.”

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said he canceled the Cornhuskers’ traditional televised spring game, in part, because of the risk of other teams scouting his players and possibly attempting to poach them through the transfer portal.

Rhule, who participated in intersquad practices when he was coach of the Carolina Panthers, said he would be in favor of the Huskers practicing a few days with another team. He said he had doubts a rule change is in the offing.

“If anybody can do it, coach Sanders can,” he said, adding Syracuse’s Brown also can be convincing. “If that happened, I would certainly look into all that has to offer.”