Woah! Now, this is not what the fans expected the spring season to be. Rather than being all easy-breezy, it’s kind of a stormy scenario out here in college football. Coaches like Matt Rhule and Ryan Day, along with others, are busy shutting the doors. They are canceling the spring games in the fear of poaching. Whereas Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy wants to revive the good ol’ Bedlam rivalry playing against Brent Venables’ Oklahoma Sooners in the spring games.

Did you know that Gundy got inspired by Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders’ wish to play another team in its spring football exhibition? However, the fate of his wish is hanging on the NCAA’s decision as ESPN analyst makes a tough verdict. Amidst all this uncertainty, Deion broke the silence on his offseason Dallas Cowboys HC buzz.

ESPN analyst’s take on the fate of Deion Sanders’ spring wish 

Deion Sanders is always up for a challenge. So, at a time when the other college football coaches refused to take the risk, Coach Prime was glad to host the spring games. Not just this. On top of that, he wanted to add a little bit of a twist to it. “I would actually like to play the spring game against another team, in the spring. That’s what I’m trying to do right now,” came Deion’s wish. And guess what? The Buffs’ HC actually got lucky. Syracuse Orange HC Fran Brown took to X to accept the open challenge. “We will come to Boulder for 3 days.” However, although both programs are ready for the face-off, they still need to get permission from the NCAA.

The only thing apparently standing in the way was the NCAA, which has a bylaw on the books that forbids teams from playing competitive contests during the spring practice window. But the desperation is real. The compliance offices at both football programs have filed formal paperwork with the NCAA office to hold a competitive spring scrimmage. The Division I FBS Oversight Committee is scheduled to meet on April 10 and could potentially make a decision at that meeting. On the March 27 episode of the ESPN College Football podcast, analyst Rece Davis shared his take on whether the NCAA is going to grant permission this year or not. “Our friend, Deion Sanders to come up with an idea that I don’t believe, and look, I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t believe it will get approved this year.”

The idea of competitive scrimmage against other programs “is an idea that’s been out there for early season or week zero games for a while.” However, doing it in the spring practice is not allowed by NCAA law. The theory that the NCAA would give Deion and Brown the green signal will be very quick. As Davis gave a blunt reminder, “Changing something that quickly that would be that significant if they were to allow that. But all of the having offered the reasons and the bureaucracy and the things that will probably stop it from happening this year.” Mind you, it’s not that Davis is manifesting that Deion’s wish is not granted. 

As he said, “Just because I’m saying I doubt that it happens this year doesn’t mean that I won’t be very happy if it does.” However, Deion is too scared that the time is running out and they might not have time till next spring. Coach Prime shared his concern, “We’ve got to sell this thing out and pack this thing, because the way the trend is going is, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game.” Amidst all this hoopla, Coach Prime’s buzz being the next Cowboys HC had taken a backseat. He chose to shut the rumors forever. 

Straight talk from Deion Sanders 

As the 2024 season pulled down the curtains, one particular narrative started to circulate. This marked the last chapter of his sons Shedeur and Shilo in college. So, it was believed that Coach Prime would have to return to an empty nest. In that case, he might opt to leap to the NFL along with his boys. After all, we knew how protective of a father he is. The Buffs HC chose to add more fuel to the speculations. 

He openly set out that on one condition he would consider coaching in the NFL. “The only way I would even consider coaching in the NFL is if I could coach my sons. And I mean my SONS, not just one of them.” At that time, the Dallas Cowboys and their GM, Jerry Jones, approached Deion for their head coaching role. Then came a statement from him. “To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing.” However, in the end, Coach Prime could not make the cut. And who better to give a glimpse of the real picture other than the coach himself?

In an interview with Skip Bayless, Deion Sanders dropped a bomb. “I’m not going to say it was offered to me.” He continued, “I’m going to say it was an opportunity that could’ve presented itself, and we didn’t go to that next level. But Jerry was always honest and straight up.” Yes, maybe the fault is in the stars, and the universe kept them apart. With the uncertainty lifted on his end, all eyes turn to the NCAA for their call.