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NCAA Approves Ending Week 0 Starting 2027 Season

8/31/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The NCAA FBS Oversight Committee approved legislation to eliminate Week 0 beginning with the 2027 season.
The season will now start on Thursday, the former Week 0, and end the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The change gives teams an extra bye week.
The shift spreads schedules and may reduce TV slots for smaller schools.
Wisconsin and Pittsburgh are scheduled to meet on August 28 2027, occupying the former Week 0 slot.

History

Historical Context

Starting in the 2002 season, the NCAA allowed FBS teams to play twelve regular-season games and the postseason expanded to a record 28 bowl contests, generating extra television revenue for schools. That schedule flexibility created a precedent for later schedule experiments, which the oversight committee officially now plans to discontinue.

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Story summary

The NCAA FBS Oversight Committee approved legislation to eliminate Week 0 beginning with the 2027 season.
The season will now start on Thursday, the former Week 0, and end the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The change gives teams an extra bye week.
The shift spreads schedules and may reduce TV slots for smaller schools.
Wisconsin and Pittsburgh are scheduled to meet on August 28 2027, occupying the former Week 0 slot.

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