Report: Missouri won't hold spring game in 2025 or 2026

The Missouri Tigers won’t be holding a spring game in 2025 or 2026 due to ongoing stadium renovations, according to Eli Hoff of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“News: [Missouri] football will not hold a spring game in 2025 or 2026, a source tells [the St. Louis Post-Dispatch]. Ongoing stadium renovations would need to be paused to a degree (to allow fans safely in the stadium) that the program doesn’t feel is worth it for an event that is rapidly becoming antiquated around the country,” Hoff posted on X.

“Other programs have canned spring games due to concerns over tampering, and this explicitly isn’t that. Purely stadium related.”

As Hoff pointed out, Missouri’s decision follows a bevy of other programs modifying their spring game, as well. The USC Trojans canceled their own version, amid a changing landscape in college athletics. The Trojans are hosting a fan appreciation event, instead. Spring practices in Los Angeles are remaining closed to the public.

Then, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule shared earlier in the offseason that they would consider not hosting a spring game over concerns about tampering. They eventually did cancel their spring game.

Along with those schools, the Ohio State Buckeyes also previously changed the format of their spring game. Another huge program in Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns cancelled their spring game, as well.

Tampering has been a major concern in the modern era of college athletics. With a transfer portal window opening up shortly after spring practice comes to an end, players who stand out in spring games could hypothetically draw attention from those outside the program. So, to avoid those players being tampered with, teams are moving away from playing those traditional games.

While Missouri is claiming the move is stadium related, it at least will allow them not to have to worry about any potential tampering, as the Tigers look to make their mark on the SEC in 2025. Regardless, it’s certainly disappointing for fans who were hoping to get a head start on the hype for a new season this spring.

Missouri will open the 2025 season with a clash against Central Arkansas on Sat. Aug. 30. That game will take place at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, so hype will certainly be through the roof when it’s time to pack the stadium for the Tigers, regardless of their decision pertaining towards their spring game.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.