New Florida Coach Wants Earlier College Football Season

Jon Sumrall believes the current calendar puts playoff teams at a disadvantage during recruiting

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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New Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall has called for changes to the college football calendar, including starting the season earlier and moving the national championship game closer to January 1. Sumrall believes the current schedule, with the transfer portal window opening in early January, puts playoff teams at a disadvantage as they must prepare for postseason games while also recruiting in the portal.

Why it matters

Sumrall's proposal to shift the college football calendar could have significant implications for the sport, potentially leveling the playing field for playoff teams and reducing the disruptive effects of the transfer portal on spring practices and team-building.

The details

Sumrall recommended the NCAA start the season earlier, with all teams playing in "week zero," so the College Football Playoff championship game could be held closer to January 1. He believes this would help address the current scheduling issue where CFP teams must prepare for their postseason games while also recruiting in the transfer portal, which opens on January 2-16. Sumrall also expressed support for the single transfer portal window, saying it allows coaches to "callous" their team from the jump, though he acknowledged it was less successful for him at previous coaching stops where he relied on the spring portal window to address roster needs.

  • The NCAA adopted a single transfer portal window from Jan. 2-16 in October 2025.
  • Sumrall made his comments during an appearance on The Triple Option podcast.

The players

Jon Sumrall

The new head coach of the Florida Gators football team.

Urban Meyer

A former college football coach who previously said teams with two losses were out of the playoff race.

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What they’re saying

“I'd love to get the calendar shifted back to where the national championship game was closer to January 1. I realize, because of TV and the NFL games in December, we've moved some of this back. I love the expanded playoff. I'm great with it. It doesn't bother me at all that there's maybe more access.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Florida Gators (The Triple Option podcast)

“When Urban [Meyer] was coaching, you had two losses, and you were out. Now, what's changed in our world, obviously, we've gone to nine SEC games, which has made this league even more brutal, almost. Not that it was easy before.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Florida Gators (The Triple Option podcast)

What’s next

Sumrall's proposals would need to be considered by the NCAA and college football's governing bodies, who would have to weigh the potential benefits against logistical challenges and television broadcast commitments.

The takeaway

Jon Sumrall's call for an earlier college football season and a national championship game closer to January 1 highlights the ongoing challenges facing the sport, particularly the tension between the demands of the playoff system, the transfer portal, and the traditional calendar. His suggestions could help address some of these issues, but would require significant coordination and compromise across the college football landscape.