Spring Game Attendance Declines in 2025: Florida, Ohio State Lead As Overall Crowds Dwindle, Raising Questions About the Future of College Football’s Offseason Tradition

The annual spring game has long been a key event on the college football calendar, drawing fans into stadiums across the country to get an early glimpse of their teams for the upcoming season. Traditionally, these events are a celebration of the sport’s rich history and the excitement for the new season. Yet, in 2025, this once-iconic tradition is showing signs of wear and tear, as spring game attendance has drastically declined across the nation.

While some programs have seen numbers dwindle, Florida and Ohio State have managed to remain at the top in terms of fan turnout, signaling that the spring game still holds value for certain programs and their loyal fanbases. However, the overall shift raises the question: Are spring games becoming a thing of the past, or is there simply a need for reinvention?

The Decline in Spring Game Attendance

Spring games, once a staple of the college football offseason, have seen a steady decline in attendance in recent years. As we entered the 2025 offseason, the attendance numbers for many major programs fell significantly, forcing schools to reconsider the value of these events. In 2025, some prominent football programs—once known for their huge spring game crowds—scaled back or canceled their spring games entirely.

At the heart of this shift are several contributing factors. One of the most significant is the growing pressure surrounding player health and safety. The risk of injury during a full-contact spring game is substantial, particularly with athletes trying to make a name for themselves and prove their worth in front of their coaches. As teams increasingly lean on spring practice sessions and scrimmages behind closed doors, rather than full-on exhibitions, the value of the traditional spring game has come under scrutiny.

Moreover, the growing influence of the NCAA’s transfer portal has played a role in the decline of spring game attendance. With players more likely to transfer at any given moment, coaches are understandably cautious about showcasing players in public scrimmages, where the exposure could lead to potential transfers or the targeting of certain players by competing programs. The risk of losing talent before the regular season even begins has caused some schools to forgo spring games altogether.

Finally, the cost-benefit analysis of hosting a spring game has shifted. While it once served as an important fan engagement event, the logistics and financial outlay for hosting large crowds for an event that doesn’t generate regular-season revenue has led many athletic departments to reconsider their investment in spring games. As a result, some programs have decided to focus their efforts on alternative fan engagement strategies, such as open practices, interactive media events, or even virtual spring game experiences.

Florida and Ohio State: Holding Strong

While many programs have scaled back or canceled their spring games, there are exceptions. Among the few outliers, Florida and Ohio State continue to lead the way in spring game attendance. Both schools have managed to maintain strong crowds in 2025, proving that there is still considerable interest in spring games for certain fanbases.

Ohio State’s spring game in 2024 saw over 80,000 fans fill the stands, which is a significant number for an offseason event. In fact, Ohio State’s spring game crowd was the largest in college football that year. Similarly, Florida’s spring game has remained popular with fans, despite a broader trend of declining attendance in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators’ event attracted 48,000 fans in 2024, showing that their fanbase still considers spring games a vital part of the college football experience.

Why have these programs been able to buck the trend of declining attendance? The answer lies in several factors:

1. Strong On-Field Performances

Both Florida and Ohio State have consistently fielded competitive teams in recent years, which helps keep the excitement high for fans. A successful program, particularly one that has competed for conference titles or playoff spots, will naturally draw attention even in the offseason. Fans are more likely to attend spring games when they feel optimistic about their team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

For Ohio State, the allure of watching a perennial contender for the College Football Playoff (CFP) title is enough to entice fans to show up in droves. Similarly, Florida, with its storied history and consistently competitive teams, continues to inspire passion from its fanbase, making spring games an attractive event to attend.

2. Engaged and Loyal Fanbases

Another reason for the continued success of spring game attendance at Ohio State and Florida is the loyalty of their fanbases. These are schools with passionate alumni networks and a deep-rooted love for football. For many fans, the spring game serves as a rite of passage, an early indication of the team’s readiness for the fall, and an opportunity to reconnect with the program. Fans in these regions have historically embraced college football as part of their cultural fabric, and the tradition of the spring game holds particular importance for them.

3. Improved Fan Experience

Ohio State and Florida have also invested heavily in improving the fan experience surrounding their spring games. Both programs offer interactive elements, such as meet-and-greets with players and coaches, fan festivals, and opportunities for fans to engage with their team outside of the stadium. This focus on enhancing the overall experience—beyond just watching the scrimmage on the field—has helped maintain the appeal of the spring game as an event in itself, rather than just a practice session.

For example, Florida has hosted events like the “Gator Walk” and other fan engagement activities, while Ohio State has expanded its spring game into a full-day experience, including live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. These extras help transform the spring game into more of a community event, increasing the appeal to fans of all ages.

The Changing Nature of Fan Engagement

While traditional spring games continue to draw large crowds at select programs, the overall landscape of fan engagement in college football is changing. Social media, streaming services, and digital platforms have all contributed to a shift in how fans interact with their teams. In 2025, fewer fans may feel the need to attend a physical spring game when they can watch extensive coverage on social media or streaming platforms, offering highlights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content from the comfort of their own homes.

Moreover, as fan culture has evolved, the experience of attending a spring game has changed. Fans now expect more than just a scrimmage. They want access to exclusive content, the ability to interact with players, and opportunities to engage with the program in unique ways. For many, the traditional spring game may no longer be enough to fulfill these desires, pushing schools to explore new methods of engagement that better fit with modern fans’ expectations.

Is the Spring Game Dead?

As the decline in spring game attendance continues to unfold, the question must be asked: Are spring games a thing of the past? While it’s clear that many programs are scaling back or even canceling their spring games, there is still an undeniable appeal in certain regions and programs where football remains king. The key to the future of spring games may not lie in simply continuing the tradition, but rather in adapting the event to fit the needs of today’s fans and the changing landscape of college football.

Some schools may pivot away from full-contact scrimmages and instead focus on skills competitions or open practice sessions that offer a chance for fans to interact with players and coaches without the injury risks of a traditional spring game. Others may focus on digital engagement, with live streams, virtual fan experiences, and social media coverage that brings the excitement of the spring game directly to fans’ smartphones and computers.