NCAA Recommends Ditching Week Zero, Moving Up College Football Season

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The NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee has recommended eliminating the unofficial 'Week Zero' from the college football calendar and officially moving the start of the season up to the Thursday before Labor Day weekend, beginning in 2027. If approved, this would give teams 14 weeks to play 12 games, providing more flexibility for potential changes to the postseason, including the possible expansion of the College Football Playoff.

Why it matters

The proposed changes to the college football calendar could have significant implications for the sport's postseason. With more room in the schedule, the NCAA may be able to expand the College Football Playoff beyond its current 12-team format. The recommendation also aims to preserve standalone weekends for conference championships and the traditional Army-Navy game.

The details

Under the recommendation, Week 1 would begin on the Thursday of what is currently designated as Week 0, and end on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This would give teams 14 weeks to play 12 games, compared to the 13-week schedule in 2026 due to a late Labor Day that year. The proposal must be approved by the Division I Cabinet in June to be ratified.

• The NCAA announced the recommendation on April 16, 2026.
• If approved, the changes would take effect starting in the 2027 college football season.

What’s next

The recommendation must be approved by the Division I Cabinet in June 2026 in order to be ratified and implemented starting in the 2027 college football season.