LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska’s spring football game, which dates to the 1920s and has been played annually since 1950, will be replaced with skills competitions and 7-on-7 games on April 26 at Memorial Stadium, the Cornhuskers announced Thursday.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule had said five weeks ago he highly doubted a spring game would be played because of his concerns about other teams scouting players in the scrimmage and possibly poaching them through the NCAA transfer portal.
The skills competitions will be similar to the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games. In addition to those and the 7-on-7 games, former players will participate in various competitions, and there will be a women’s flag football exhibition.
Tickets are $10 for adults. For an additional $50, fans can take a one-hour tour of the Osborne Legacy Complex football building.
As part of the Husker Games, as the event is called, Nebraska also will host a women’s soccer exhibition against Wyoming and a spring women’s volleyball match against Kansas.
While spring football games remain popular and a big draw at some programs, schools in recent years have started to move away from traditional scrimmages because of smaller rosters and the risk of player injuries. In addition to the Huskers, Ohio, Southern California and Texas are among the programs ending the tradition this year.