FCS proposes spring joint practices in major football calendar overhaul

The FCS Oversight Committee moved to let programs hold spring joint practices with another four-year school, a change that would give quarterback battles, new offenses and new defenses live work before August camp. The proposal, introduced June 24, 2026, is part of a broader overhaul that would rewrite how FCS teams use spring and summer time on the field.

Under the plan, current spring practice and summer activities rules would be replaced by two out-of-season practice periods totaling 21 on-field practices. Neither period could run longer than five weeks, and the combined window could not exceed seven weeks. Schools also would have to set aside at least nine discretionary or voluntary weeks when required athletically related activities are off limits, a guardrail meant to keep the calendar from turning into a year-round grind.

A spring joint practice gives coaches a way to evaluate a young quarterback against another defense without the wear and tear of a full scrimmage, and it gives teams installing a new scheme a better look at whether the operation actually works when the opponent is moving. The committee also proposed cutting the preseason practice period to 27 calendar days and 21 practices, down from 25 practices, saying the extra spring and summer opportunities under the new model justify trimming work in August.

The ripple effects go beyond practice reps. The January notification-of-transfer period would shrink from 15 days to 10 days, starting the first business day after Jan. 1. The proposal would also give schools more recruiting autonomy through a recruiting person-days model and allow up to 17 staff members total, including the head coach, to recruit off campus. An experimental instant replay video feed to both coaches’ booths during games is also included.

The Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee is responsible for the structure and oversight of FCS football, including championship administration, playing rules and policies affecting programs and student-athletes. The new package still needs a final oversight vote in August 2026. If approved, most changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, with the preseason practice change set for the 2027 season. A parallel FBS proposal introduced the same week would use the same 21-practice out-of-season model and 10-day January transfer window, while another FCS legislative item under consideration in June 2026 would push the final date for postseason competition back by one day.