The 2027 college football season is headed for a major change: the NCAA Division I Cabinet has approved standardizing the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) regular season at 14 weeks beginning in fall 2027. The headline change: the season will start on the Thursday of what is currently known as Week 0, the week before Labor Day weekend, which effectively moves every FBS team a week earlier and ends the patchwork of Week 0 waivers that has defined recent seasons. The Cabinet, which met in late June 2026, also adopted new bowl-eligibility rules that take effect this fall.
2027 College Football Calendar Change: Quick Facts
Last updated: July 2, 2026.
- What changed: the FBS regular season is standardized to 14 weeks, starting in fall 2027.
- New start: the season opens on the Thursday of the current Week 0 slot (the week before Labor Day weekend), so all FBS teams start a week earlier.
- Games: up to 12 games across 14 weeks, with two bye weeks.
- Standalone weekends: for conference championship games and the Army-Navy game; season ends the week after Thanksgiving.
- Week 0 waivers: the old waiver-only Week 0 patchwork is eliminated.
- 2026 season: unchanged – it still uses the traditional calendar with a waiver-based Week 0.
- Bowl eligibility (2026): FCS-to-FBS reclassifying teams can become bowl-eligible, and APR no longer sets the order for 5-7 alternates.
What the NCAA Changed for 2027
Under the approved plan, FBS teams will play up to 12 regular-season games over a standardized 14-week window that begins on the Thursday of the current Week 0 and ends the week following Thanksgiving. The extra room builds in two bye weeks for every team and creates standalone weekends for conference championship games and the Army-Navy game, which had been squeezed by the old 13-week structure. According to ESPN, the change was recommended earlier in the year and formally adopted by the Cabinet in June, taking effect for the 2027 season.
Is Week 0 Being Eliminated, or Does Everyone Start in It?
Both framings describe the same change, which is why coverage has split on the wording. Today, only a handful of teams open in Week 0 by applying for waivers, while most of the sport kicks off on Labor Day weekend. Starting in 2027, the entire FBS begins on that earlier Thursday by default, so there is no longer a separate, waiver-only Week 0 to opt into. In practice, every team starts a week earlier, and the standalone Week 0 as fans have known it goes away. For reference, the 2026 season still runs on the current calendar: see our 2026 College Football Week 0 schedule for this year’s early openers.
Bowl Eligibility Changes for 2026
The Cabinet also adopted bowl-eligibility tweaks that apply to the 2026 season. Teams moving up from the Football Championship Subdivision to the FBS can now qualify for bowl games as deserving teams, provided the usual reclassification and sponsorship requirements are met. And when there are not enough bowl-eligible teams and 5-7 squads are needed as alternates, Academic Progress Rate will no longer determine the order, though teams must still clear a 930 APR to be eligible.
Other Cabinet Actions
Football was not the only item on the agenda. In the same set of decisions, the Cabinet remanded a proposal to move men’s soccer to a two-semester (fall and spring) season back to its oversight committee for further review after roughly 20 conferences opposed it, per the NCAA. That proposal remains under consideration and did not advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new 14-week college football season start?
The standardized 14-week FBS regular season takes effect in fall 2027. It begins on the Thursday of what is currently Week 0, the week before Labor Day weekend.
Is Week 0 being eliminated in college football?
Effectively, yes. Starting in 2027 the entire FBS opens on that earlier Thursday, so there is no separate waiver-only Week 0. Every team simply starts a week earlier than the traditional Labor Day weekend opener.
How many games will FBS teams play?
Up to 12 regular-season games across a 14-week window, which gives every team two bye weeks and standalone weekends for conference title games and Army-Navy.
Does this change affect the 2026 season?
No. The 2026 season still runs on the current calendar with a waiver-based Week 0. The standardized 14-week format begins in 2027.
What are the 2026 bowl eligibility changes?
FCS-to-FBS reclassifying teams can now be bowl-eligible as deserving teams, and Academic Progress Rate no longer sets the order for 5-7 alternate teams, though a 930 APR floor still applies.
More College Football Coverage
- 2026 College Football Schedule: Printable PDF, TV Channels, and Key Matchups
- 2026 College Football Week 0 Schedule
