LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2026-37
PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- BOWL SUBDIVISION FOOTBALL -- FIRST CONTEST DATE AND END OF PLAYING SEASON
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: In bowl subdivision football, to specify that an institution shall not play its first contest with outside competition before the Thursday preceding the Saturday that is 14 weeks before the first Saturday in December, and to eliminate all first contest date exceptions.
Bylaws: Amend 17.13, as follows:
[Federated provision, FBS only]
17.13 Football. Regulations for computing the football playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
[17.13.1 through 17.13.3 unchanged.]
17.13.4 First Contest.
17.13.4.1 First Contest -- Bowl Subdivision. In bowl subdivision football, an institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition before the Thursday preceding Labor Day the Saturday that is 14 weeks before the first Saturday in December (see Figure 17-2).
17.13.4.1.1 Exception -- Institutions That Compete in Hawaii -- Bowl Subdivision. An institution that is scheduled to play a regular-season game in Hawaii may play its first permissible contest with outside competition on the Saturday prior to the Thursday preceding Labor Day. If the institution's first opponent of the season is not a member institution located in Hawaii, the institution’s first opponent of the season may also play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition on the Saturday prior to the Thursday preceding Labor Day.
17.13.4.1.2 Exception -- In-Season Foreign Competition -- Bowl Subdivision. An institution that is scheduled to play a regular-season game in a foreign country may play its first permissible contest with outside competition on the Saturday prior to the Thursday preceding Labor Day. An institution that uses this exception must provide its student-athletes with five additional days off from all countable athletically related activities during the institution's declared playing season.
[17.13.4.2 unchanged.]
17.13.5 End of Playing Season. A member institution's last contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in football shall not be played after the second Saturday or the following Sunday in December, except for the following:
(a) Spring Practice Scrimmage. One scrimmage or contest at the conclusion of spring practice, provided the game is with a team composed of bona fide alumni or students or both; and
(b) Postseason Games, NCAA and NAIA Championships, International Competition and Celebration Bowl. Permissible postseason games that meet the requirements of Bylaw 18.7 and the NCAA postseason football handbook or those games played in the Division I Football Championship; football contests played on a foreign tour certified by the member institution; or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics football championships. In championship subdivision football only, a member institution's last contest also may include participation in the Celebration Bowl.
17.13.5.1 End of Playing Season -- Bowl Subdivision. In bowl subdivision football, an institution's last contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition shall not be played after the first Saturday in December, except for the following:
(a) Spring Practice Scrimmage. One scrimmage or contest at the conclusion of spring practice, provided the game is with a team composed of bona fide alumni or students or both; and
(b) Conference championship game;
(c) Army vs. Navy game;
(d) Postseason Games. Permissible postseason games that meet the requirements of Bylaw 18.7 and the NCAA postseason football handbook; or
(e) Foreign Tour Competition. Contests played on a foreign tour.
17.13.5.1.1 Final Date for Postseason Game -- Bowl Subdivision. In bowl subdivision football, the postseason football games in Bylaw 17.13.5.1-(d) must be played not later than the third Monday in January.
17.13.5.2 End of Playing Season -- Championship Subdivision. In championship subdivision football, an institution's last contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in football shall not be played after the second Saturday or the following Sunday in December, except for the following:
(a) Spring Practice Scrimmage. One scrimmage or contest at the conclusion of spring practice, provided the game is with a team composed of bona fide alumni or students or both; and
(b) NCAA Championships, International Competition and Celebration Bowl. Games played in the Division I Football Championship; football contests played on a foreign tour; or the Celebration Bowl.
17.13.5.12.1 Celebration Bowl Restrictions. All members of the Mid-Eastern and Southwestern Athletic Conferences shall participate in the Division I Football Championship, if eligible and selected for participation, and members of those conferences that participate in the Division I Football Championship also shall not participate in the Celebration Bowl during the same year. The Celebration Bowl may be conducted on the same weekend as the Division I Football Championship, provided there is no conflict in the time of the contests.
17.13.5.2.2 Final Date for Postseason Game -- Championship Subdivision. In bowl subdivision football, the postseason football games in Bylaw 17.13.5-(b) must be played not later than the third Monday in January. In championship subdivision football, the postseason games in Bylaw 17.13.5-(b) must be played not later than the second Monday in January.
[17.13.6 through 17.13.9 unchanged.]
Source: NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee
Effective Date:August 1, 2027
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Rationale: This proposal provides a consistent 14-week regular season schedule, which simplifies scheduling. Additionally, the proposal would eliminate all first contest date exceptions, ensuring one first contest date for all FBS institutions and removing issues related to potential competitive advantages.
Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Value-Based Legislation.
Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. The first contest date in bowl subdivision football is nationally significant.
Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: Yes. This proposal will not increase monitoring burdens.
How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: This proposal supports student-athlete well-being by establishing a consistent 14-week regular season schedule.
Estimated Budget Impact: Dependent on institutional and conference scheduling decisions.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
History
| Apr 16, 2026: | In Progress | The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee introduced the proposal. The committee recommends that the Cabinet adopt the proposal as expedited legislation during its June 23-24, 2026, meeting. |
| Jun 24, 2026: | Adopted Final | Adopted by the cabinet as expedited legislation. |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 17.13 | Football. |
| I | 17.13.4 | First Contest. |
| I | 17.13.4.1 | First Contest -- Bowl Subdivision. |
| I | 17.13.4.1.1 | Exception -- Institutions That Compete in Hawaii -- Bowl Subdivision. |
| I | 17.13.4.1.2 | Exception -- In-Season Foreign Competition -- Bowl Subdivision. |
| I | 17.13.5 | End of Playing Season. |
| I | 17.13.5.1 | Celebration Bowl Restrictions. |
| I | 17.13.5.1 | End of Playing Season -- Bowl Subdivision. |
| I | 17.13.5.1.1 | Final Date for Postseason Game -- Bowl Subdivision. |
| I | 17.13.5.2 | Final Date for Postseason Game. |
| I | 17.13.5.2 | End of Playing Season -- Championship Subdivision. |