Auburn announces changes to its upcoming spring game

The Auburn Tigers are the latest in a growing group of big-time college football programs to make a change to their spring game.

The idea behind much of this change is, of course, paranoia. The spring game has traditionally served as an intrasquad scrimmage that would allow fans to watch the team and perhaps see some of the up-and-comers down the depth chart.

Now, many coaches seem to think it's a way for their opponents to scout their depth for potential poaching opportunities in the spring transfer portal.

That's likely the reason head coach Hugh Freeze made this change, though it's worth noting that Auburn is simply announcing it as a format change to A-Day.

"Auburn’s A-Day presented by Golden Flake will have a new look in 2025 as the Tigers’ annual event will feature free admission and post-practice autograph session inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Unlike prior years where a score was kept, this year’s A-Day will look more like a traditional practice," a press release stated.

It's worth noting that while many spring games have traditionally been filmed for fans at home to watch on television, Auburn has chosen to carry a broadcast of the practice on the radio (which is mostly pointless) and then there will be a highlight "all-access show" in April.

Any enjoyment fans had in the spring game has essentially been buried under paranoia, but that's how things roll in the transfer portal and NIL era.