Deion Sanders' intersquad scrimmage proposal gains coach support

Deion Sanders, the head coach of Colorado football, is pushing for college teams to have intersquad scrimmages similar to those in the NFL. This idea is gaining support among coaches as college football plans to reduce team rosters to 105 players this fall. Craig Bohl, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, believes the NCAA may allow these scrimmages soon. He noted that if some programs try it, many others might follow. Sanders suggested that teams could host one another for joint practices leading up to exhibition games instead of traditional spring games. Syracuse coach Fran Brown has shown interest in the idea, expressing a willingness to visit Colorado for a few days of practice. Colorado's athletic department is in talks with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference about this possibility but has not provided any updates. There is strong interest among coaches for these practices, especially with the expected roster limit coming. It would help manage player fatigue more effectively as the average roster was 128 players last year. Coaches believe intersquad scrimmages could be especially helpful for teams targeting the College Football Playoff. However, some coaches raise concerns about player exposure. They worry that having their players showcased could lead to tampering from other schools. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule canceled his team's spring game partly for this reason, fearing other teams could scout his players. Rhule, who has experience with intersquad practices in the NFL, would support collaboration with another team if the rules change.