Texas and Southern California are part of the growing wave of prominent programs punting their annual spring game, eliminating the “live scrimmage” element from the offseason practice schedule in favor of an “NFL model.”Coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed the Longhorns won’t pack Darrell K. Royal Stadium in April as has been tradition for Texas and almost every college football program in response to the length of the season.”Over the last two years we played 30 games. That’s a lot for college football: 14 two years ago, 16 this year,” Sarkisian told Kay Adams in an appearance on “Up and Adams.””And I just mentioned we’ve had 25 guys get invited to the NFL combine the last two years, so we’ve got a lot of young players on our roster. We have 21 mid-year high school kids that just showed up. And so the development that’s needed for these guys to get ready for the fall is a little bit different than it used to be.”USC, one of Sarkisian’s previous employers, reportedly will move forward with the public engagement elements of the spring game and involve well-known former players and coaches in a replacement event yet to be officially announced.Sarkisian, who also coached in the NFL, emphasized process and individual player development in leading Texas to the first 12-team playoff in 2024. The Longhorns will double down on that plan.