College Football Needs to Fix Its Broken Calendar

Experts say consolidating the season and playoff, eliminating conference title games, and adjusting the transfer portal could improve the sport

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:05am

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The college football calendar is in need of major reforms, according to experts and commentators. Suggestions include consolidating the regular season and playoff, eliminating conference championship games, adjusting the transfer portal timeline, and establishing a 16-team playoff format. However, the author argues these changes are unlikely to happen before 2032 due to ESPN's control over the bowl games and playoff. The article highlights the need for a commissioner who can make decisions for the good of the game, rather than individual conferences looking out for their own interests.

Why it matters

The current college football calendar is widely seen as inefficient, with the playoff dragging on too long and conflicting with the NFL schedule. Reforms could help streamline the season, reduce subjectivity in the playoff selection process, and better serve the interests of players, coaches, and fans.

The details

Key proposed changes include: 1) Consolidating the regular season and playoff into a tighter timeline, with games played in sequential order; 2) Eliminating conference championship games and instead folding them into the final week of the regular season; 3) Establishing a 16-team playoff format without byes, with the first two rounds played on campus; 4) Creating a separate playoff for the Group of 5 conferences to help grow their visibility and revenue.

  • The college football season currently begins in late August or early September.
  • Conference championship games are typically played the first Saturday in December.
  • The Army-Navy game is currently played the second Saturday in December.
  • The College Football Playoff semifinals are played on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.
  • The College Football Playoff national championship game is played in early January.

The players

Nick Saban

The head football coach at the University of Alabama, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest college coaches of all time. The article suggests Saban could serve as an ideal commissioner to fix the college football calendar.

Julius Caesar

The Roman emperor who created the Julian calendar in 46 BC, which was later corrected by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The article compares Saban to these historical figures in terms of his potential to reform the college football calendar.

Tony Petitti

A sports executive who has proposed changes to the college football transfer portal timeline, which the article suggests could help improve the overall calendar.

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What they’re saying

“Playoff games should be played in sequential order, and finish sooner than now”

— Daniel Arthur Lanning

“Everyone agrees on the following changes that should be made to the CFB Calendar, but …”

— Jon Joseph, Author

What’s next

The article suggests that major calendar reforms are unlikely to happen before 2032 due to ESPN's control over the bowl games and playoff. However, it notes that some easier changes could be made, such as eliminating signing days and establishing a single spring transfer period for football.

The takeaway

Reforming the college football calendar is seen as crucial for improving the overall health and competitiveness of the sport. While significant changes face significant hurdles, experts believe streamlining the season, playoff, and transfer rules could go a long way towards serving the best interests of players, coaches, and fans.