INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved changes to the college football calendar on June 26, 2026. These changes include standardizing the Bowl Subdivision (FBS) regular season and adjusting bowl eligibility rules for reclassifying teams.

The FBS regular season will be standardized at 14 weeks. Beginning in fall 2027, teams will be able to schedule up to 12 regular-season games within this 14-week period. The season is structured to conclude after Thanksgiving, incorporating two bye weeks, along with dedicated weekends for conference championship games and the Army-Navy game.

Teams reclassifying from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to FBS will become immediately eligible for bowl games. This eliminates the previous requirement for a two-year waiting period. This change in bowl eligibility takes effect in fall 2026, with North Dakota State and Sacramento State scheduled to make their FBS debuts in the same season.

In addition to the cabinet's approvals, the FBS and FCS oversight committees proposed further adjustments to the calendar. One proposal is to shorten the January transfer portal window from 15 to 10 days, beginning on the first business day following January 1. The oversight committees also proposed a new model for spring and summer activities.

Under the proposed model for spring drills, teams would shift to two sessions, with a total of 21 on-field practices. These two spring drill sessions would be capped at seven weeks combined. Currently, teams in both divisions are permitted 15 spring practices over 34 days. The FCS proposal includes a provision for teams to hold a joint spring practice with another four-year institution.

The summer proposals suggest that each school would designate a minimum of nine discretionary weeks for players, during which no mandatory activities would occur. FBS and FCS teams currently have the ability to require eight weeks of strength and conditioning training and film study during the summer, without on-field drills. The oversight committees are scheduled to vote on these proposals in August. If adopted, these proposals would take effect on January 1, 2027.