FCS Oversight Committee introduces proposal to modify football calendar

The Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee met this week and introduced a proposal to change the FCS calendar. The proposed changes remain subject to a final oversight committee vote in August. If adopted, they would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The proposal includes the following recommendations:

1. Out-of-Season Activities — Effective Jan. 1, 2027

A new out-of-season activities model would replace the current spring practice and summer activities legislation and allow FCS schools to conduct two out-of-season practice periods with a total of 21 on-field practices.  The duration of the two practice periods may not exceed seven weeks, and neither practice period may exceed five weeks. Additionally, schools must designate a minimum of nine discretionary or voluntary weeks for student-athletes when required athletically related activities are not permitted.

2. Joint Practice with Another Four-Year Institution — Effective Jan. 1, 2027  

FCS programs would be able to engage in a joint practice with another four-year institution during the spring academic term. 

3. Modified Preseason Practice Period — Effective for the 2027 season

A preseason practice period would consist of 27 calendar days to conduct 21 practices. In making the recommendation, the committee noted that additional practice opportunities would be available during the spring and summer under the new out-of-season activities model, which warranted a four-day reduction to the length of the preseason practice period and a reduction in the number of practices from 25 to 21. 

4. Notification-of-Transfer Period — Effective Jan. 1, 2027

The notification-of-transfer period in January would change from a 15- to a 10-day period beginning the first business day following Jan. 1, which aligns with a similar recommendation made by the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee.

5. Off-Campus Recruiting — Effective Jan. 1, 2027

Adjustments would be made to the FCS recruiting model to provide institutional autonomy to determine recruiting philosophies and practices through a recruiting person days model. In addition, the recommendation would permit up to 16 institutional staff members and the head coach (17 total) to recruit off campus and change the fall evaluation period to a contact period. 

Instant Replay Video Feed — Experimental Rule

The committee approved an experimental rule proposal from the NCAA Division I Football Rules Subcommittee to permit instant replay video output to be made available in real time to both coaches booths during games. Conferences may choose to implement the experimental rule during their conference games during the 2026 regular season.  For nonconference games, the visiting team may opt out, which means that neither team would be permitted to have instant replay video output available to the coaches booths. Alternatively, the visiting team may agree with the home team to provide the video output to both teams' coaches booths. The current allowance to have the broadcast video in the coaches booths remains.