Oklahoma Football Is Bringing Back the Traditional Spring Game - and Fans Should Be Ready
NORMAN, Okla. - The Spring Game is coming back to Norman.
After experimenting with a new format last year, Oklahoma football is returning to its roots this April. OU Athletics announced that the 2026 Spring Game will once again take place at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, scheduled for April 18. And while the format hasn’t been officially laid out yet, one thing is clear: the Sooners are going back to something fans know and love.
This marks a shift from 2025, when Oklahoma - like a handful of other programs - stepped away from the traditional intrasquad scrimmage in favor of a more controlled, practice-style event dubbed the “Crimson Combine.” That change was driven by modern realities: the risk of injuries in a game-like setting and growing concerns about roster poaching in the ever-evolving name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape.
But the numbers told a story. Attendance for the Crimson Combine was announced at 16,316 - a sharp drop from the 45,861 fans who packed the stadium for the 2024 Spring Game. Simply put, the energy wasn’t the same.
The Combine leaned heavily into fan interaction, with high-intensity drills replacing live game action, followed by a “Party in the Palace” event in the north end zone. There were perks - a beer garden, autograph sessions, and a more relaxed atmosphere - but the absence of an actual football game left many fans wanting more.
And it’s not just Oklahoma that’s been rethinking the spring format. Around the country, coaches have been floating new ideas. Colorado’s Deion Sanders made waves last year when he suggested joint practices modeled after the NFL, a concept that caught the attention of then-Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy.
Gundy even proposed a spring Bedlam series between OU and OSU - a home-and-home setup where the teams could scrimmage each other in front of fans, charge admission, and channel the proceeds into their NIL programs. “We get tired of practicing against each other,” Gundy said, pitching the idea as a win-win for both programs and their fanbases. Despite the buzz, the idea never got off the ground.
Still, the appetite for a return to tradition - or at least something with a little more football flavor - has remained strong. And with the Sooners now preparing to rejoin the ranks of programs hosting full-fledged spring games, it’s a sign that Oklahoma is listening to its fans while navigating the new realities of college football.
City leaders in Norman and Stillwater have also shown interest in rekindling the Bedlam rivalry, pointing to the economic benefits that come with marquee matchups. While there’s no official movement on that front yet, the conversation around spring football is clearly evolving.
For now, Oklahoma fans can circle April 18 on their calendars. The Spring Game is back, and while we’re still waiting on the full details, one thing’s for sure - it’ll be more than just drills and DJ sets this time around.
More information on the event is expected to be released in the coming weeks.