NCAA Division I Schools Reject Two-Semester Men's Soccer Season Proposal

A proposal to split the men's college soccer season into two semesters starting in 2027-28 failed after 241 of 361 Division I schools voted against the change.

A two-thirds majority of NCAA Division I schools voted to reject a proposal that would have split the men’s soccer season into two semesters starting in the 2027-28 academic year. According to an NCAA news release, the 241-vote threshold required to rescind the measure was met by the 5 p.m. deadline on Friday, November 6, 2026. Consequently, the sport will maintain its current 10-to-13-week fall championship window, culminating in the College Cup in December.

The rejected model would have allowed teams to play 18 matches between late August and November, followed by up to 10 matches from mid-February until the NCAA tournament. Proponents, including Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski, argued the change was necessary to reduce injury rates, which he stated are six times higher when playing three games per week compared to two. The oversight committee initially adopted the measure in May to provide more recovery time and reduce missed class time, but the legislation failed to secure the 75% Division I Cabinet vote in October required to avoid the rescission period.

Opposition to the split season came largely from low-to-mid-major athletic departments citing limited facility and administrative resources. Major programs including Boston College, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Ivy League schools also voted against the change. Opponents, such as the University of Toledo and the University of Idaho, expressed concerns regarding increased costs, staffing demands, and the precedent it might set for other sports to request similar calendar extensions. Notably, more than 100 schools that do not sponsor a men’s soccer program participated in the vote to rescind the proposal.