BOULDER — Deion Sanders wishes his team was playing someone other than itself Saturday at Folsom Field.

The third-year Colorado coach tried to set up a scrimmage with Syracuse coach Fran Brown to no avail as the NCAA denied the joint waiver filed last month.

It came at a time where the spring game is slowly dying across college football. Countless Power 4 programs have either modified or canceled the traditional spring game altogether.

The Buffaloes’ version will look quite different than it did five years ago. Ticket sales seem to be on the decline for a third straight year — although it’s unfair to expect a sold-out spring game like coach Deion Sanders’ debut in 2023.

But spring games as a concept could soon be changing, Sanders hopes.

“I think it hurt the ticket sales when (the NCAA) said we wasn’t going to get that scrimmage (against Syracuse),” Sanders said. “I wish we would’ve, but hopefully we get it a year from now when somebody else thinks of it besides me and coach Fran Brown and lets them do it first.”

Allowing teams to do one (or multiple) public scrimmages in the spring could revitalize the practice period overall and embrace the current calendar, which features transfer portal periods before and after spring practices.

A simple format similar to the NFL’s training camp model — with a couple of joint practices in the leadup to a public scrimmage on national TV — should be easy for top programs to support.

It’s almost to a point where coaching staffs are wondering why the spring period exists due to the ever-changing rosters before and after.

“I don’t know how you assess (the spring practices),” coach Sanders said. “You’re practicing against yourself. If you’re doing good, what does that say? If you’re doing bad, what does that say? That’s why I wanted a spring game against somebody else (so) you could kinda assess talent, assess coaching, assess growth, assess adversity.”

Sanders admitted Thursday the Buffs will once again be active in the now-open spring transfer window. They’ve already secured verbal commitments from potential impact players like Campbell wide receiver Sincere Brown and Memphis offensive lineman Xavier Hill.

CU expects to bring in close to 15 new faces heading into the summer. It’s not hard to see why. Last year, players like wide receiver Will Sheppard, linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green and running back Dallan Hayden all joined the program after the spring.

“I think we know the portal really good,” Sanders said. “We’ve been doing this for quite some time. It didn’t just start when we got here. We’ve got some tremendous guys identified that’s in the portal. The portal is gonna be good to us. I think we have several players coming this weekend, which I’m excited to see.”

Of course, Saturday also marks the start of a new era. Not only will the Buffs say goodbye to stars like Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders — both of whom will have their jersey numbers retired in a pregame ceremony — but it will be the first time CU fans see Sanders since he signed a long-term contract extension.

“I told you I wasn’t going nowhere,” coach Sanders said. “I don’t know why you all didn’t believe me. I love it here.”

Colorado’s Black & Gold Day schedule

10 a.m. — Parking lots open

Noon — Field day on Franklin Field

12:30 p.m. — Folsom Field gates open

2:21 p.m. — Junior Buffs performance

2:27 p.m. — National anthem

2:35 p.m. — Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter number retirement

2:45 p.m. — Spring game kicks off

— Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette