Michigan State announces it will not hold spring game in 2025

Michigan State will not hold a spring game this year, according to head coach Jonathan Smith. They are the latest program to change this part about the spring football season.

Smith had his reasons for making the change. Michigan State will take advantage of additional practice time.

“There was multiple factors in not having a spring game but we really want to take advantage of all 15 of the spring practices,” Smith said. “And I think this is the best way we can do it.”

Michigan State is just the latest program to do away with a spring game in 2025. Third-year Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule sparked a trend last month when he announced he was canceling the Cornhuskers’ annual Spring game. He did so citing a concern about rival teams tampering with his roster following last year’s scrimmage.

Since then, other FBS programs such as reigning national champion Ohio State, Texas, USC, Florida State, Missouri, and NC State, among others, have outright canceled their traditional Spring scrimmage, citing various reasons, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. 

Other programs like Alabama, Arizona, Oklahoma and Ole Miss have announced plans for an alternative event in place of a traditional scrimmage, with the Sooners planning a “Crimson Combine” and the Rebels putting on their “Grove Bowl Games” for the second straight Spring.

Michigan State won’t hold spring game in 2025

While Michigan State joins the list of teams not doing a spring game, Colorado will carry on its own tradition of holding the game. In fact, head coach Deion Sanders wants to tailor it like the NFL.

“The Spring Game will be televised on ESPN2 … on the 19th,” Sanders said. “We got to sell this thing out and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game. I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that. I would like to play in the spring. Actually, I (would) like to play against another team in the spring. That’s what I’m trying to do right now. 

“To have a competitive (game) against your own guys kind of gets monotonous. You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, you know, it’s the same old, same way. Everybody kind of know each other. Towards the end, I would like to style it like the pros. I would like to practice against someone for a few days, then you have the spring game and I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously. I think it’s a tremendous idea. I’ve told those personnel who should understand that it’s a tremendous idea.”