AFCA Proposes Four Calendar Overhauls for Football
SkimNews Take
The proposed schedule compression, by tightening competitive and academic windows, implicitly prioritizes player availability for the playoff and transfer portal over traditional in-season development or recovery periods.
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- American Football Coaches Association proposes ending conference championship games, cutting open weeks from two to one, and finishing the season by the second Monday in January.
- NCAA's Football Oversight Committee recommends starting the regular season on “Week Zero” Thursday beginning in 2027, moving the calendar earlier.
- Craig Bohl says the Jan 2‑16 transfer portal drives the need for an earlier season end and backs further CFP expansion, though he leaves the exact size undecided.
Why it matters: Student‑athletes gain a tighter schedule that aligns with the Jan 2‑16 transfer portal, while schools lose revenue from fewer open weeks and must compress game prep, potentially boosting TV ratings but cutting gate receipts.
