By Packy Moore
10/8/2024
Change would standardize length of future seasons at 22 weeks
The Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees adopted changes to first-contest dates for regular-season competition, beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The new rules permit schools to begin playing their first regular-season contest on the Monday that is 22 weeks before the start of the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship finals.
Currently, in both sports, the length of the playing season fluctuates between 21 and 22 weeks, based on when the championship games occur.
For three consecutive basketball seasons, including this one, the basketball season has been 22 weeks, but the next four seasons had been scheduled for 21 weeks. The new playing season model would relieve the scheduling compression that occurs in years when the playing season is shortened to 21 weeks.
Members of both basketball oversight committees think starting the season on a Monday gives schools greater flexibility in deciding when games are scheduled the opening week of a season. This is the same contest date that is being used for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Before becoming official, the adopted proposal is subject to review by the Division I Council, which is meeting today and Wednesday in Indianapolis.
“This change would standardize the playing and practice season to 22 weeks each year, eliminating variability based on the calendar and/or when the championships are held,” said Dan Butterly, chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and commissioner of the Big West Conference.
Previously, the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee considered starting upcoming seasons on a Wednesday, but it amended its proposal to establish Monday as the first day. A Monday start date allows schools to make local decisions about scheduling their men’s and women’s basketball first contests, since both sports may start their seasons on the same day.
“The shift in the first-contest date and making the playing season consistent at 22 weeks will allow for greater flexibility and clarity for teams in developing their schedules and for the greater basketball community,” said Kelly Barsky, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee and director of athletics at UC Santa Barbara. “We look forward to seeing the benefits of this update and will keep tracking on the outcomes of this change.”
Shifting the first-contest start dates also avoids conflicts with Election Day.
| Current Start Date | Proposed Start Date | Women’s Final Four | Men’s Final Four | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 | Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 | April 3 & 5, 2026 | April 4 & 6, 2026 |
| 2026-27 | Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 | Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 | April 2 & 4, 2027 | April 3 & 5, 2027 |
| 2027-28 | Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2027 | Monday, Nov. 1, 2027 | March 31 & April 2, 2028 | April 1 & 3, 2028 |
| 2028-29 | Monday, Nov. 6, 2028 | Monday, Oct. 30, 2028 | March 30 & April 1, 2029 | March 31 & April 2, 2029 |
| 2029-30 | Monday, Nov. 5, 2029 | Monday, Nov. 5, 2029 | April 5 & 7, 2030 | April 6 & 8, 2030 |
| 2030-31 | Monday, Nov. 4, 2030 | Monday, Nov. 4, 2030 | April 4 & 6, 2031 | April 5 & 7, 2031 |
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