A year ago, we told you that men’s NCAA soccer would be changing to a Fall/Spring split-season model. That is now a reality, beginning in the 2027-28 season.
The Division I Men’s Soccer Oversight Committee passed legislation to move men’s college soccer to a fall/spring split, effective Aug. 1, 2027. The number of games played would remain the same (limit 25), but fewer multiple-game weeks would be on the calendar. Final action is expected to be reviewed and approved during a Division I Cabinet meeting on June 23 & 24.
This season shift reflects a player development model followed across the sport and will allow college soccer to compete and retain high-end players. Studies have also shown a significant reduction in injuries following the elimination of multiple weekly games. There is also an academic benefit with less student-athlete travel during the week, with most matches moved to the weekends. Fans in the Denver area will benefit from fewer weekday games and better weather throughout the season.
The first block of matches in the Fall will feature a maximum of 18 matches, scheduled between August 1st and the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The spring block, beginning in mid-February, will feature up to another 10 contests before the Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. The specific dates for the postseason will be determined later.
The schedule for Denver Athletics in the spring block will become busier with lacrosse and soccer at the same time (and the tail end of the hockey season). Fortunately, DU has the facilities to accommodate all the teams, should they be scheduled for the same time or date. If nothing else, with the NCHC’s (and, hopefully, the NCAA’s) shift to campus sites for the postseason, Ritchie Center is quickly becoming THE place to be every Spring.
The men’s soccer schedule change will not impact the women’s soccer schedule, at least for now.
I love this move.
While some programs may bitch about facility overlap at mid-majors, staff over-extension into Spring and player’s enjoying out-of-season campus experiences, the plusses are amazing – player development, less midweek travel, less missed class time, more weekend games, better training experience, proper rest, season-ending games and College Cup games in better soccer weather, more effective injury management and synchronized soccer calendars, better spectator experience, etc. DU (and other good programs) will benefit from this.
Marginal D-I programs may struggle with it, but the game needs to grow, and this move creates a better game that can compete for better players.