Spring games have been all the rage this offseason in college football — meaning the thought of doing a spring game has given multiple head coaches fits of rage.
Why is that, you ask?
Well, it's simple, albeit a bit conspiratorial.
Spring games used to be a time for college programs to do something fun for the fans while getting younger players on the roster the chance to compete in a simulated game environment while potentially making a name for themselves.
Spring games still provide that very same opportunity, mind you, but in the world of NIL and transfer portal availability many coaches are starting to see it as a way to showcase the depth on their roster to rival recruits who may try to poach their players.
Again, it's a bit conspiratorial, but it makes sense. That's why big-time schools like Ohio State, Texas and USC have cancelled their spring games this year.
Georgia is a big-time program that is planning on moving forward with its spring day — known as G-Day — but interestingly enough, head coach Kirby Smart isn't ruling out changes in the future.
“Everybody has different approaches. My approach has been, I like to have spring football games,” Smart said on Tuesday, according to Alex Byington of On3. “But every year we make that decision based on where we are. We haven’t even practiced yet. So, I’d be remiss if I said, ‘100% I’m dead-set we’re having a spring game.’ I leave every option open. That’s our 15th practice, so we can do what we want to do. We’re planning to have a spring game.”
The biggest advantage to spring games is undoubtedly, as Smart put it, the ability to run a controlled practice in order to get players experience. College football teams don't have preseason games like they do in the NFL, so the spring game is a huge opportunity to simulate the intensity of gameday while also working on coaching up some of the younger players.
It has always been a big advantage, but it does make sense that coaches are starting to question that advantage — especially with the existence of another transfer portal window that opens up in mid-April.
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College football is a big business these days, and quarterbacks are among the biggest beneficiaries in the system. Just look at the numbers. On3’s Pete Nakos released a list on Thursday of their site's valuations for how much money each quarterback in college football could be making. They have Arch Manning as the runaway leader with a valuation of $6.8M. Carson Beck, who was enticed to leave Georgia and transfer to Miami, is second at $4.3M. No other quarterback on the list has a valuation greater than $4M, though everyone else in the top 10 has a valuation above $3M. Those are estimated figures about a quarterback’s NIL value based on their popularity, name recognition, demand as a transfer and social media following. There is plenty of money to be made in college football, which is why many quarterbacks who have questionable futures as a professional try to extend their eligibility. Some have even taken a legal route to stay in school longer, which is a concept that would have been unheard of years ago. Manning having the highest valuation at nearly double many of the other top quarterbacks is not a surprise. He is going to be the starting quarterback at one of the most premium-brand schools in Texas. He also has more name recognition than anyone in college football since he is carrying on the Manning family quarterback legacy. Manning does not take full advantage of his ability to make money and instead is more selective about what endorsement deals he signs. He was even able to negotiate with EA Sports separately to appear in their video game. The real trick for Manning will be to live up to the hype. Texas has made the College Football Playoff two years in a row, including the national championship game last season. The only way to exceed that is by winning it all this season.
The Chicago Bears roughed up their preseason opponents, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, at joint practices this month. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson said the coaching staff has been trying to walk the line of being aggressive but not going overboard. Sometimes the Bears are going too hard, overdoing it at times. “I mean, even (defensive coordinator) Dennis Allen, he’s telling defense we live every day in practice,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson during an appearance on “Night Cap” Thursday night. “So just really that mentality, as far as going and playing physical is, like, really, just honestly overdoing it really is the thing… What we say, like, toe the line, toe the line line between going too far and really pushing the limits.” Jaylon Johnson notices a big difference in the 2025 Chicago Bears Johnson has missed much of training camp due to a leg injury. He missed the physical practice between the Dolphins and Bears that had Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald complaining about how Allen was coaching up his defense. Johnson said that the entire coaching staff under new head coach Ben Johnson wants a tough and physical culture like has been seen in recent years with the Detroit Lions. “We’re gonna execute,” Jaylon said. “And it’s like, nah, it’s just about whooping the guys in front of you, like, really, like dominating and instilling your will. And I think really just preaching that goes a long way. Because I feel like even in Detroit, for a long time, they didn’t have talented guys, but they had a lot of guys that had grit, as they like to say over there, and guys that work hard, that are tough, and things like that.” Johnson is embracing the change. The Bears should. Dan Campbell’s teams have been successful in recent years in Detroit. The culture is certainly better than the one that folded under Matt Eberflus last season.
The Cleveland Browns have a big concern on Saturday following an injury to a key part of the offensive line. The Browns played their starters against the Los Angeles Rams as a tune-up before the regular season. Per the NFL's website, center Ethan Pocic was ruled out of Saturday's game against the Rams when he suffered a knee injury. Via the NFL: "C Ethan Pocic suffered a knee injury against Los Angeles and will not return to the game. Pocic played eight snaps with starting quarterback Joe Flacco before exiting with his injury. Pocic was injured on a third-and-9 play in the first quarter when Rams defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson ran into his leg while he was engaged in a block on linebacker Brennan Jackson." Pocic's injury is a worry for the Browns ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. The 2017 second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks is a leader on Cleveland's offensive line. He's been with the Browns since 2022. Pocic has appeared in 101 games and started in 84 during his first eight years in the league. The upcoming season is important for the 30-year-old, as he's in the final year of the three-year, $18 million deal he signed in 2023. When Pocic came out of the game, the Browns inserted Luke Wypler in at center. The 2023 sixth-round pick has played in just five games in his career and has made one start. Wypler missed all of 2024 with an ankle injury that required surgery.
The Cleveland Browns seemed to say plenty regarding their feelings about rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders when they repeatedly listed Gabriel above Sanders on unofficial depth charts throughout August. Sanders played well in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8 when Gabriel was recovering from a hamstring injury. Gabriel then received his opportunity to shine in the Aug. 16 preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles when Sanders was dealing with an oblique issue. For a piece published on Thursday, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic suggested that the stats from those contests show "the Browns trust Gabriel more than they do Sanders" heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. "The Browns used pre-snap motion 45 percent of the time with Gabriel against the Philadelphia Eagles," Lloyd wrote. "They used it 31 percent of the time in Sanders’ game against the Carolina Panthers, according to TruMedia data. On third downs, that increased to 63 percent for Gabriel and plummeted to 18 percent for Sanders." The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of this year's draft before they made a trade to take a flier on Sanders at overall pick No. 144. Against the Panthers, Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. To compare, Gabriel connected on 13-of-18 passes for 143 yards with a pick-six against the Eagles. He was also credited with a lost fumble. "Gabriel was three of four on [tight-window throws] against the Eagles, according to NextGen Stats, and two of those turned third downs into first downs," Lloyd added. "Sanders was zero for four on tight-window throws against the Panthers." It's worth noting that none of this matters as of publication. Veteran Joe Flacco will serve as Cleveland's Week 1 starter, and the Browns seem serious about having Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders and backup Kenny Pickett on the active roster through at least a portion of the upcoming season. The trade deadline will arrive on Nov. 4. Lloyd mentioned that "a fear that Sanders may develop elsewhere" is a reason the Browns are holding onto the former Colorado star when they prefer Gabriel. As of now, Sanders is on track to continue his development while working in the Browns film room as an unused quarterback throughout the fall.
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