The Division I Cabinet on Wednesday remanded a proposal from the Division I Men's Soccer Oversight Committee that would have shifted men's soccer to a two-semester playing season, with the Division I Men's College Cup occurring during the spring semester.
The Cabinet noted the Men's Soccer Oversight Committee's efforts to modernize the calendar to grow the sport and noted men's soccer student-athletes broadly support the change.
However, the Cabinet also noted that the proposed change to the playing season was opposed by 20 Division I conferences that raised concerns about the duration of the season and the lack of clarity about related rules and the impact on championship selections, including eligibility for midseason enrollees.
The Cabinet asked the committee to revisit the proposal to provide additional clarity. The Cabinet also raised concerns about what the change to a two-semester season would mean for the student-athlete academic experience. The Cabinet also remanded the proposed accompanying change to the men's soccer notification-of-transfer window, which was expected to be adjusted to align with a change to the playing season.
FBS season
Beginning in fall 2027, the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision regular season will be standardized to 14 total weeks ending the week following Thanksgiving. Teams may schedule up to 12 regular-season games. The change, which was introduced by the FBS Oversight Committee in April, was adopted by the Cabinet.
Bowl game eligibility
The Cabinet also approved two FBS Oversight Committee proposals impacting postseason participation. Effective with the 2026 football season, teams reclassifying from the Football Championship Subdivision to the FBS will be eligible to participate in postseason bowl games, provided they otherwise meet the definition of a deserving team and meet all FBS sport sponsorship and reclassification requirements. Additionally, if there are not enough deserving teams and one or more teams with a minimum of five wins and a maximum of seven losses is needed, the Academic Progress Rate no longer will determine the order in which alternates become eligible for selection. However, teams must continue to achieve at least a 930 APR to be eligible as an alternate.
Tampering and agents
The Cabinet also discussed tampering, rules for recruiting potential transfers and penalties associated with tampering with players from other programs. During its June meeting, the Division I Board directed national office staff to socialize an engagement period concept that would create a short window for permissible discussions prior to a Transfer Portal window opening. Staff shared initial concepts, and the DI Cabinet expected to continue its discussions on the topic later this summer.
In response to feedback from member schools and student-athletes, the Cabinet also discussed broad concerns about agent activities, including high fees. The Cabinet directed staff to develop proposals to address these concerns and to explore an enhanced agent registry system.
The Cabinet is expected to take up both discussions again in future meetings.
