The college football regular season could be extended by two games.
The Division I Football Oversight Committee is examining a variety of FBS issues and changes during a quarterly meeting this week in Indianapolis, including a standardized 14-game regular-season schedule. Other items, such as the size of football support staffs and preseason practice schedules, will also be discussed.
“A variety of different models will be looked at,” said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who is also chair of the oversight committee chair. “We think there are some ways that the beginning of preseason practice can be kept in August and still meet the appropriate safety considerations.”
Committee members have already begun "preliminary talks" on the 14-game schedule but a decision is not expected for three months. They will continue reviewing and discussing the idea and present a recommendation to the oversight committee in October.
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Though they did mention the elimination of two-a-day practices could prompt changes in fall camp schedules that would require student-athletes to report in late July, it's unclear if the season would start earlier or end later — or a combination of both.
The 2017 regular season will start on Aug. 26, with five games and conclude on Dec. 9 with the Army–Navy game. However, most FBS teams finish the regular season two weeks earlier — between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23. The bowl schedule begins on Dec. 16.
It's also unclear when a 14-game schedule would be implemented.
