Numerous NCAA Football Bowls Subdivision programs, highlighted by Deion Sanders’s Colorado program and Fran Brown’s Syracuse Orange, spent much of the past month trying to find a way to play a spring game featuring opposing teams.
Talked about it. The NCAA said “No” to the proposal as of this year.
But two other NCAA programs? Well, they’re talking about and being about a spring exhibition contest.
The University of Sioux Falls, an NCAA Division II program with recent success in that level's national top 25, is hosting fellow D-2 program Nebraska-Kearney Saturday for a spring football game -- a virtually unprecedented move in NCAA collegiate football.
USF posted the news to social media.
"Cougar Fans! Join us this Saturday as (we) host Nebraska Kearney at 2:30 p.m. (CT) for their annual spring game."
Cougar Fans!
— USF Cougars (@USFCougars_) April 8, 2025
Join us this Saturday as @USFCougarsFB host Nebraska Kearney at 2:30pm for their annual spring game!
🎟️ Season tickets will be available for renewal on the concourse. New season ticket holders will also be able to stop and purchase tickets!#CooFalls | #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/7BF8QwBlRV
Sioux Falls officials are using the showcase-event to try to drum up season ticket renewals, as shown in their post, but they also are capitalizing on the program's momentum moving into Year 3 under Jim Glogowski.
The Cougars are coming off an 8-3 season, been ranked in the NCAA D-2 Top 25 and slated to open their 2025 campaign Thursday, Aug. 28, at Black Hills State.