INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA's Football Oversight Committee recommended on Wednesday that Football Bowl Subdivision teams play a 12-game schedule over 14 weeks beginning in 2027. The proposal would require approval by the Division I cabinet, which is scheduled to discuss the recommendation in June.

Under the proposal, the regular season would begin on the Thursday of what is now called Week Zero and end on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The change would eliminate exceptions for teams to play before the official start of the season and provide two open dates for all teams during the 14-week window.

The proposal would preserve standalone weekends for conference championship games and the Army-Navy game. It would also allow flexibility for potential expansion of the College Football Playoff, which could require opening games in mid-December. Leaders of the College Football Playoff are discussing how and when to expand the current 12-team field.

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea voiced support for the additional bye week. "To go through a season without two bye weeks is challenging to a roster, and in a time where we've imposed roster limits, and in our league where we're playing nine league games now, on the off years where we weren't able to get that second bye, we believe there's a negative impact mentally, physically, emotionally, to the players, coaches, everyone involved," Lea said. "So from our vantage point, it was something we've supported and feel strongly about."

Discussions about moving the official start of the season to Week Zero have been underway for some time. The 2026 college football season starts with eight Week Zero games on August 29, 2026. In 2025, there were five college football games on Saturday, August 23.