The NCAA has formally published updated bylaws governing the start of the regular season for both the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), clarifying how early teams may begin competition beginning in 2027.
In June, the Division I Cabinet approved an FBS Oversight Committee proposal standardizing a 14‑week regular season for FBS programs starting in fall 2027. Under this model, the FBS season will always span 14 weeks—featuring a 12‑game schedule and two bye weeks—and will continue to conclude on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
As a result, the season’s opening weekend shifts earlier in most years to the weekend prior to Labor Day, commonly known as Week Zero, but will now be the new Week 1.
Updated FBS “First Contest” Bylaw
Current Bylaw
17.13.4.1 First Contest — Bowl Subdivision. [FBS] In bowl subdivision football, an institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition before the Thursday preceding Labor Day (see Figure 17‑2). (Adopted: 6/25/25 effective 8/1/26)
Future Bylaw
17.13.4.1 First Contest — Bowl Subdivision. In bowl subdivision football, an institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition before the Thursday preceding the Saturday that is 14 weeks before the first Saturday in December (see Figure 17‑2). (Adopted: 6/25/25 effective 8/1/26, Revised: 6/24/26 effective 8/1/27)
This change locks in the start of the 2027 FBS season as Thursday, August 26. The 2028 season will begin on Thursday, August 24, and the 2029 season on Thursday, August 23.
It’s currently unknown if Week Zero will continue to exist in years when the calendar produces 15 weeks including the weekend prior to Labor Day and the final Saturday in November. The next years that will occur is 2030, 2031, 2036, 2041, and 2042.
If it continues, Hawaii and teams playing in Hawaii would remain eligible to open their seasons in Week Zero under exception 17.13.4.1.1. Teams playing internationally may also open early under exception 17.13.4.1.2. Any other program would require an NCAA exemption.
17.13.4.1.1 Exception — Institutions That Compete in Hawaii — Bowl Subdivision. [FBS]
An institution scheduled to play a regular‑season game in Hawaii may play its first permissible contest on the Saturday prior to the Thursday preceding Labor Day. If its first opponent is not located in Hawaii, that opponent may also open on that Saturday. (Adopted: 4/28/16 effective 8/1/16, Revised: 6/25/25 effective 8/1/26)
17.13.4.1.2 Exception — In‑Season Foreign Competition — Bowl Subdivision. [FBS]
An institution scheduled to play a regular‑season game in a foreign country may play its first permissible contest on the Saturday prior to the Thursday preceding Labor Day. Institutions using this exception must provide student‑athletes five additional days off from all countable athletically related activities during the declared playing season. (Adopted: 5/19/22 effective 8/1/22, Revised: 6/25/25 effective 8/1/26)
Updated FCS “First Contest” Bylaw
The FCS bylaw, which went in to effect this year, shifted the season start for all teams to the weekend prior to Labor Day weekend (the former Week Zero). This change and the impending FBS change will align the start date for both subdivisions beginning next season.
17.13.4.2 First Contest — Championship Subdivision. [FCS]
In championship subdivision football, an institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition before the Thursday that is 13 weeks before the Thursday preceding the FCS Championship selection date (see Figure 17‑2). (Adopted: 6/25/25 effective 8/1/26)
Start Dates for the Next Five Seasons
FBS Start Dates
2027: Thursday, Aug. 26
2028: Thursday, Aug. 24
2029: Thursday, Aug. 23
2030: Thursday, Aug. 29
2031: Thursday, Aug. 28
FCS Start Dates
2027: Thursday, Aug. 26
2028: Thursday, Aug. 24
2029: Thursday, Aug. 23
2030: Thursday, Aug. 29
2031: Thursday, Aug. 28
NOTE (Aug. 19, 2026): This article was updated following the NCAA making a correction to Bylaw Figure 17-2. As a result, the start dates for the FCS have been updated as well as some language within the article itself.
View Comments (10)
I think you are misunderstanding the FCS start date. August 27th is 13 Thursdays before the selection show. I think they are counting November 19 as one of the Thursdays.
Open the PDF document, go to Bylaw 17.13.4.2 (page 236 of the PDF, but says page 225 at bottom), then click the link where it says see Figure 17-2, it opens a document on the NCAA's website that shows the start dates.
https://gozips.com/documents/2026/8/17/NCAA_2026-27_Manual.pdf
98 degrees on Saturdays in August in the South and West.
Perfect football weather
Ha
The nighttime is the right time
thank you for plainly stating the revisions of the bylaws as it became quite easy to understand and comprehend
Are we going to keep calling it "Week Zero?" Wouldn't it just be week one now that every team is playing?
It will be the new Week 1, yes. However, there are some years when the calendar has an extra Saturday during the playing season, so there still could be a Week Zero in those years. I'm seeking clarification on that.
The simple move would have been to change Week 0 to Week 1 for every year, but instead they make all these exceptions based on differing calendars
Does this mean the Army-Navy game has be in the 14-week span?
No, it's staying put for now.