The connection is obvious and undeniable. We don’t need a football coach to tell us that events don’t occur in isolation.

If there is widespread illegal tampering in college football, then why host a spring game and invite coaches from other schools to scout your players during the event and potentially entice them with offers?

That’s why Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is considering canceling his program’s popular spring game, to avoid these complications. This raises a broader conversation about a major issue in college football that ties back to the NFL’s baffling system of free player development.

The absurdity of spring practice.

Consider this: Ohio State just finished a five-month training camp and played 16 games to clinch the national championship, yet spring practice is set to start in less than two months.

This means 15 practices, including a spring game, just over eight weeks after an intense 20-week season of the most physically demanding sport out there.

How is this sensible?

Given the ample evidence showing the risks of the sport, particularly the rise in head injuries and serious ligament damage, why do coaches still insist on subjecting their teams to extra hitting in practice so soon after a full season?

It’s now been almost four years since the landscape of college football changed dramatically, with the introduction of NIL deals and the movement of players. Month after month, college football inches closer to resembling a smaller version of the NFL.

Why ignore these developments now? Why, when players can earn millions before even stepping onto the college field, while schools expand postseason opportunities and prepare for a true pay-for-play system, would college football cling to outdated player development methods that no longer apply?

While player development during the offseason is vital, it’s not being done effectively or intelligently. It’s a monumental challenge for universities to align on anything, and even then, you might hear someone suggest players could complete two seasons in nine months during a pandemic (we will always remember you, Kevin Warren).

This isn’t complex. Just approach practice and hitting with intelligence, and think about their timing and duration.

In the NFL, player development during the offseason is well-structured, with defined dates for team interactions with players. It’s clear when hitting can occur, and it doesn’t happen often, especially in the offseason.

The NFL conducts 10 days of OTAs (organized training activities) where hitting is prohibited, and participation isn’t required. They also hold 2-3 days of “mini-camp,” primarily aimed at rookies and younger players lacking significant field time.

In essence, those two aspects of development mirror what spring practice is for college football.

There’s undeniable merit to spring practice at the college level, particularly as midterm enrollees are now the norm rather than the exception. High school athletes are graduating early to get a jump-start on their college football careers.

The difference in speed and physicality between high school and college is significant, and the 15 practices bridge the gap to the genuine development that occurs in fall camp. Therefore, conduct OTAs for freshmen and redshirt freshmen in early spring, with those sessions devoid of live, 11-on-11 contact.

Then reconvene in early May for a mini-camp, where the entire roster is available for a limited number of days. Preseason training starts in late July, with designated days for 11-on-11 team hitting.

Much like in the NFL, coaches can excuse players from OTAs or mini-camp based on injuries or a desire to give younger players more opportunities to shine. But shifting to an offseason schedule that follows the NFL’s model raises additional issues that need to be confronted.

Once again, events don’t happen in isolation.

Spring games generate revenue for universities, allowing them to welcome fans eager to get a glimpse of their team’s potential. This enthusiasm can translate into season ticket sales and merchandise, as well as boosting fundraising efforts for programs.

The biggest downside of this entire situation, the absolute worst part, is that the NFL reaps the most benefits. College football programs cultivate talent for the NFL, yet they receive no compensation for it.

The NFL, the most prosperous professional sports league globally, does not pay for player development. With a $110 billion – billion – media rights agreement, not a single dime goes to support a critical component of its success.

To stop teams from siphoning players after watching spring games, the solution is straightforward. Transition to an NFL-like offseason structure and negotiate a compensation agreement with the NFL.

Without a compensation agreement, there should be no scouts or personnel from the NFL allowed at NCAA institutions. No access to practices, games, or spring training. No access to game tapes or coaching insights.

Nothing.

When the NFL draft rolls around, those same scouts will have as much knowledge as the average fan as they enter into a crucial stage of player selection.

For far too long, college football has dutifully served the NFL. It’s time for a change. This new landscape may be NFL-driven, but it doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t shoulder the costs.

Whether it means ending spring practice and games, or adopting a revised offseason calendar.

Events don’t take place in isolation.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for News Sports Network. You can follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.