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College Football Eyes Earlier Start Date: Week 0 Push
25 Mar
Summary
- NCAA committee may recommend an earlier season start in late August.
- This change could be implemented as soon as the 2027 season.
- The NCAA football oversight committee must approve the proposal.
The college football season could begin earlier for all teams in the near future, with a recommendation reportedly moving toward a late August start, now referred to as Week 0. This significant change might be implemented as soon as the 2027 season, providing teams with at least two bye weeks during a 12-game schedule. The NCAA football oversight committee would ultimately need to approve the proposal.
This adjustment is considered 'low-hanging fruit' due to widespread support, potentially moving forward independently of the ongoing College Football Playoff format debates. The plan aims to maintain Thanksgiving weekend as the end of the regular season, meaning the campaign would start 14 weeks prior. While some years might still see a Labor Day weekend start depending on the calendar, some teams currently play Week 0 games with NCAA waivers.
