Texas is latest school to cancel spring game, a college tradition that's fading

College football's annual rite of spring seems to be withering.

Texas became the latest major program Thursday to ditch or change its annual spring scrimmage that has long been a staple for fans eager to see the rising stars of their program and get a peek into the upcoming season.

Coach Steve Sarkisian announced there would be no Orange & White scrimmage this year, citing the wear and tear of playing 30 games over the last two seasons when Texas twice advanced to the College Football Playoff.

"We're not going to have a spring game," Sarkisian said in an interview with Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams Show."

It's time to find a new way to develop players and preserve their bodies amid longer schedules, Sarkisian said.

"We've got a lot of young players on our roster," he said. "We have 21 mid-year high school kids who just showed up. The development that is needed to get these guys ready for the fall is a little bit different than it used to be."

"I just don't know rolling the ball out, playing the game, when we only get 15 practices, is the best for us to maximize the opportunities that we get."

At Ohio State, which beat Texas in the CFP semifinal on its way to the national championship, coach Ryan Day recently said the Buckeyes will have a spring showcase instead of the traditional scrimmage game, but gave few details. He noted some of the same wear and tear concerns that Sarkisian had.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said earlier this month his program likely wouldn't have a spring game because he did not want to give other programs — who may dangle lucrative name, image and likeness payments — an easy chance to evaluate and poach his players through the transfer portal.

And Southern California has reportedly considered dropping