Reform in University Football: A New Horizon for Sport in the United States
A committee appointed by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) has proposed a radical change in men’s college soccer, suggesting a season that extends throughout the entire academic year, starting in the fall of 2026. This recommendation arises from the need to adapt collegiate soccer to the demands of professional soccer and international competition.
The “NexGen College Soccer” committee, composed of 17 members, has been working on solutions to improve player preparation, seeking an evolution of college soccer. Although more time is needed to evaluate the best structure for women’s college soccer, the proposal could follow the same line as the men’s.
We firmly believe that any of these proposed options is superior to the current situation.
NexGen College Soccer Committee
The proposed changes, which still require NCAA approval, could transform a system that has historically been a development path for American professional players, especially women. Current problems include a truncated season played in the fall, which puts a lot of pressure on athletes and leaves them without competition for much of the year.
JT Batson, CEO and general secretary of U.S. Soccer, expressed his optimism about the implementation of these changes, highlighting that the recommendations seek to improve the experience of student athletes, provide financial stability, and offer development opportunities for players, key aspects for college soccer.The proposal for men’s soccer includes that the 213 Division 1 programs compete for the same championship, but instead of traditional conferences, they would play regionally and within tiers of teams with similar competitiveness. These tiers could change over time, in a system similar to promotion and relegation.
According to preliminary estimates, this system could save programs between $25,000 and $350,000 annually in operating costs, depending on their current travel. The changes would only apply to NCAA Division 1 football.
The preseason would begin in mid-to-late August, and the regular season would extend until April, with a break in December and January. The matches would be played mainly on weekends, instead of the current structure of multiple matches per week.
A championship would be played in May, which, according to Helfrich, would give it a greater platform by not overlapping with other college championships. This would also have commercial benefits and give college football a greater platform for fan support, media visibility, and sponsorship.
Helfrich highlighted that the experience and implications for the 14,000-15,000 football players in Division 1 in the United States were a dominant factor in the committee’s debate, seeking solutions that benefit everyone involved.
The federation expects to have a recommendation to implement in women’s college soccer for the 2027-28 academic year. Different options are being considered, recognizing the particularities of women’s soccer, which has 350 Division 1 programs and a greater disparity in the quality of the teams.
The next step in the process is the NCAA, which has historically been slow in its evolution. The committee is expected to hold formal conversations with the NCAA football subcommittees in the coming weeks, with the aim of drafting legislative proposals and deadlines before the end of the year. The goal is to launch the new system in August of next year.
Among the proposal’s ideas is greater flexibility in player eligibility, with pathways for those seeking a second chance or greater participation in professional teams without sacrificing their college eligibility.
These proposals come at a time when development leagues continue to emerge in the United States, with MLS Next and several USL divisions already existing on the men’s side, while the NWSL plans to launch a second division in the coming years, in addition to WPSL Pro, which would add more than 1,000 new professional roster spots on the women’s side.
U.S. Soccer believes that all these elements can coexist with college soccer and that the federation’s responsibility is to unite them. The goal is to boost the growth of soccer in the United States and make the national teams successful.
