Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule discussed why the program will not be having a spring game in 2025. It was first brought up by athletic director Troy Dannen earlier this week.
Nebraska has traditionally hosted the Red-White game throughout the program’s history. However, this is set to change in 2025, with thetransfer portal being cited as a primary factor in the decision. The Huskers have found success in the transfer portal in their own right, landing 15 transfers so far this off-season.
Rhule explained why Nebraska would not be continuing the traditional spring game.
“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.”
This is certainly a change from previous years. Nevertheless, college football is evolving rapidly, and teams now have to protect their players more than ever from entering the transfer portal. Although it’s disappointing to the fans, it speaks to the current state of college football and it could offer a preview of the future.
North Carolina and Bill Belichick add South Alabama QB Gio Lopez via transfer portal
North Carolina has made its first major transfer portal addition under new head coach Bill Belichick.
The Tar Heels are signing former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez ahead of the 2025 season. Lopez entered the transfer portal Wednesday after he was the team’s starter in 2024, and he quickly committed to the Tar Heels.
Lopez played in 11 games as a sophomore in 2024 and was 206-of-312 passing for 2,559 yards and 18 TDs with just five interceptions. He averaged over 8 yards an attempt and threw for 233 yards per game. He also rushed 83 times for 463 yards and seven scores as USA’s offense averaged 6.8 yards a play.
When reports emerged he was entering the transfer portal earlier in the week, Lopez immediately became a coveted recruit for power conference teams looking for an upgrade at quarterback. And North Carolina fits that description.
The Tar Heels went 6-7 in Mack Brown’s final season in 2024 and struggled to find consistent quarterback play after Max Johnson’s injury in the season-opening game vs. Minnesota. With Johnson out for the year after a significant leg injury, Jacolby Criswell became the team’s primary quarterback for the rest of the season. He completed 58% of his passes for 2,459 yards and threw 15 TDs and six interceptions. Criswell entered the transfer portal in January and signed with East Tennessee State.
