The economy of spring football games has gone through cycles.

There was once an arms race to break attendance records as a barometer of program vitality. That seems to have died off in the last several years, however.

TV interest also faded.

A year ago, only Georgia and Colorado had spring games that aired on ESPN or ESPN2. Practically all the other major conference teams were relegated to streaming broadcasts on ESPN/SEC+.

This year, it’s even less.

While Alabama’s first A-Day under coach Kalen DeBoer will air live on ESPN (April 13 at 3 p.m. CT), not all SEC spring games will air live somewhere.

That includes Auburn.

The Tiger’s A-Day Game at 1 p.m. CT on April 6 will not include a live broadcast on any platform.

ESPN’s announcement of games released Monday states schools including Auburn, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt “will also produce All-Access shows instead of traditional spring football showcases.” The programming will be produced by the schools themselves instead of ESPN or the SEC Network.

That means the first glimpse of 5-star freshman WR Cam Coleman will have to come in person or when the 2024 season kicks off Aug. 31 against Alabama A&M.

A year ago, both Alabama and Auburn’s A-Day Game aired on the ESPN+/SEC+ streaming platform.

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There’s apparently enough interest in seeing the first post-Saban Alabama A-Day game on the main ESPN Network. Fittingly, it was Saban’s 2007 debut spring game that kickstarted the outburst of attention these scrimmages received. All 92,000-plus seats were filled to see that new era begin while A-Day aired live on the now-defunct CSS cable network.

Alabama A-Days aired live on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU every year from 2013-21 except for the 2015 game that was on SEC+.

These spring games and the TV exposure they drew have always been a double-edged sword for coaches.

Of course, they love the recruiting benefits of the scrimmage airing live on TV in broadcasts that become something of a commercial for the program.

They also love keeping secrets.

Any plays, schemes or formations that appear anywhere outside the sanctity of the practice field is fair game for opponents to scout.

Take Alabama for example.

While there’s going to be more media access to spring practices under DeBoer, there are still restrictions on what can be filmed. Then on April 13, the entire scrimmage culminating his first spring practice season will be available for anyone with cable TV.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.