The Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees proposed changes to first contest dates for regular-season competition beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The recommended dates are currently in the NCAA Division I legislative process designed to seek feedback from the broader membership and must be approved by the Division I Council in October before becoming official.
In men's basketball, the proposal specifies that schools could begin playing their first regular-season contest on the Wednesday that is 22 weeks before the start of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship final.
In women's basketball, schools could begin their first regular-season contest on the Monday that is 22 weeks before the start of the Division I Women's Basketball Championship final.
In addition, for women's basketball, starting the season on a Monday and a different first contest date than men's basketball would allow for greater flexibility with competition venues and men's and women's television window conflicts.
Women's Basketball Oversight Committee members think staggering the start dates will also allow for women's basketball to have increased marketing and promotional opportunities contributing to elevation of the sport at a campus level.
Currently, in both sports, the length of the playing season fluctuates between 21 and 22 weeks, based on the timing of when the championship game of the Men's and Women's Final Fours occurs.
This proposal would standardize the playing and practice season to 22 weeks each year, eliminating variability in the length of the playing season based on the calendar and/or when the championships are held.
The proposal would relieve scheduling compression that currently occurs in years when the playing season is shortened to 21 weeks.
Shifting the first contest start dates also avoids conflicts with Election Day.
Here are the proposed first contest dates for upcoming Division I men's and women's basketball seasons:
Division I men
|
Current Start Date |
Proposed Start Date |
Men's Final Four |
| 2025-26 |
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 |
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 |
April 4 & 6, 2026 |
| 2026-27 |
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 |
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 |
April 3 & 5, 2027 |
| 2027-28 |
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2027 |
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2027 |
April 1 & 3, 2028 |
| 2028-29 |
Monday, Nov. 6, 2028 |
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2028 |
March 31 & April 2, 2029 |
| 2029-30 |
Monday, Nov. 5, 2029 |
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2029 |
April 6 & 8, 2030 |
| 2030-31 |
Monday, Nov. 4, 2030 |
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2030 |
April 5 & 7, 2031 |
Division I women
|
Current Start Date |
Proposed Start Date |
Women's Final Four |
| 2025-26 |
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 |
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 |
April 3 & 5, 2026 |
| 2026-27 |
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 |
Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 |
April 2 & 4, 2027 |
| 2027-28 |
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2027 |
Monday, Nov. 1, 2027 |
March 31 & April 2, 2028 |
| 2028-29 |
Monday, Nov. 6, 2028 |
Monday, Oct. 30, 2028 |
March 30 & April 1, 2029 |
| 2029-30 |
Monday, Nov. 5, 2029 |
Monday, Nov. 5, 2029 |
April 5 & 7, 2030 |
| 2030-31 |
Monday, Nov. 4, 2030 |
Monday, Nov. 4, 2030 |
April 4 & 6, 2031 |
