Let’s be honest—spring football is fun, but outside of a few big programs, it’s not exactly must-watch TV. That changes when you put two teams on the same field. And if there’s one matchup ESPN should be pushing for this year, it’s Colorado vs. Syracuse.
Why? Simple. There’s not much football on in April, and ESPN is already airing the Colorado Spring Game on April 19. Adding another team would crank up the intensity and give fans a real game to watch instead of just another glorified practice.
Coach Prime has already been leading the charge to make these spring matchups happen. He’s talked about how Nebraska, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC would all be on board. Why not take the first step this year?
And let’s not ignore the money side of things. ESPN recently dropped baseball, so they need more content during the spring and summer. A competitive spring football game would easily outdraw some random MLB regular-season game. More eyeballs mean more ad dollars, which is exactly what ESPN wants.
This matchup makes too much sense. Coach Prime, a national brand, against a solid Power Five team like Syracuse? That’s a game people would tune in for.
It might not happen this year, but by 2026, expect spring games like this to be a reality. And when they are, ESPN will be the biggest winner of all.