NCAA Scraps College Football Week 0 in 2027 as All FBS Teams Shift to 14-Week Season
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 29
NCAA Scraps College Football Week 0 in 2027 as All FBS Teams Shift to 14-Week Season
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 29
Summary
Beginning in 2027, every FBS team will play within the same 14-week regular-season window, with up to 12 games and two open Saturdays, ending the early-start setup known as Week 0.
The NCAA said the change simplifies scheduling, removes competitive advantages for teams that open earlier, and adds flexibility as conference realignment increases cross-country travel.
This season’s eight Week 0 games exist only through exceptions: UNC-TCU qualifies as a foreign game in Dublin, six others through Hawaii scheduling rules, and NC State-Virginia via a waiver after a planned Brazil game collapsed.
For broadcasters, the shift turns what had been a lightly populated 'free Saturday' into the official opening weekend, with ESPN expecting a fuller Thursday-to-Saturday slate instead of a standalone eight-game card.