NCAA Men’s Soccer Year-Round Rule Change Rescinded

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (November 9, 2026) – A previously approved rule change that would have moved NCAA Division I men’s soccer to a two-semester playing season, with the championship occurring in the spring, was rescinded by two-thirds of the Division I member schools on November 6, 2026 at the end of a procedural 30-day period.

Proposals adopted with less than a 75% majority vote by the Division I Cabinet are subject to the 30-day rescission process. As a result of the rescission, Division I men’s soccer will continue to play its championship season in the fall. If the year-round proposal had been adopted it would have started in the 2027-28 academic year.

The year-round playing season has long been supported by the men’s soccer community as a better way to develop talent in the sport. Advocates — including student-athlete representatives who serve on the Cabinet — also believe it would allow more time for rest and recovery between games for men’s soccer student-athletes, in addition to reduced weekday travel.

A year-round season would have maintained the current limit on 25 games per year. Teams would have been able to play up to 18 in the fall segment from late August through the week before Thanksgiving and up to 10 in the spring segment starting in mid-February.

The Division I Women’s Soccer Oversight Committee reviewed the proposal and ultimately declined to propose a similar change in women’s soccer.