NCAA Committee Recommends Earlier College Football Season Start in 2027

The NCAA's Football Oversight Committee recommended on Thursday that Football Bowl Subdivision teams begin their seasons earlier starting in 2027. The proposal calls for a 12-game regular season spread over 14 weeks, starting on the Thursday of what is currently designated as Week 0.

This adjustment would end the season on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, preserving standalone weekends for conference championship games and the Army-Navy game.

The change would provide teams with two open dates, addressing concerns about player health and safety. It would also eliminate exceptions for teams to play before the official start, following an increase in waivers for early games in recent years.

Health and Safety Considerations Vanderbilt

coach Clark Lea, a member of the Football Oversight Committee, stated that the current calendar has been a health and safety issue.

He noted that seasons without two bye weeks are challenging, especially with roster limits and nine league games in some conferences. " — Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea (ESPN) Lea added that the committee supports the change to mitigate these impacts.

Proposal Background and Next Steps

The recommendation comes amid discussions about expanding the College Football Playoff's 12-team field.

The proposed calendar would offer flexibility for potential postseason changes. For the proposal to take effect, the Division I Cabinet must adopt the legislation, with discussions scheduled for June. The idea of moving the season start has been under consideration for some time, predating an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in March to establish an exclusive broadcast window for the Army-Navy game.

Recent Scheduling Trends

In recent seasons, more teams have sought waivers to play before the official start.

For example, five games were scheduled on August 23 in 2025. This season, eight games are set for August 29, including international matchups such as North Carolina versus TCU in Dublin and NC State versus Virginia in Rio de Janeiro. The ESPN source reported that the oversight committee's recommendation aims to standardize the schedule and reduce the need for such waivers.