The Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee is recommending legislation to increase the maximum number of games that can be played, standardize the first contest date and eliminate first contest date exceptions, beginning with the 2026 season.
If the legislation is adopted by the Division I Council, FCS teams could play 12 regular-season contests each year. Current legislation permits 12 regular-season contests in years when there are 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November (2024, 2025). In all other years, only 11 regular-season contests are permitted.
The recommendation also would standardize the start date of the FCS season as the Thursday 13 weeks before the FCS championship bracket is released, which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. If the proposed change is adopted, in 2026, FCS teams could begin competing on Thursday, Aug. 27.
As part of standardizing the start date for all FCS programs, the proposal eliminates first contest date exceptions in the FCS. Currently, those exceptions allow contests that meet legislated criteria to take place as early as the Saturday before the Thursday prior to Labor Day (which would be Aug. 29 in 2026).
The Division I Council must adopt the recommended legislation for it to take effect. Based on the FCS Oversight Committee's May 5 meeting, the committee chair will notify the council of the committee's recommendation during the council's May 15 meeting. Then, during its June 24-25 meeting, the council will act on the recommendation.
