Major Changes in College Soccer: Season Extension
A better college soccer experience and a pathway to professional leagues
Important news for college soccer players! The U.S. Soccer Federation, through the NextGen College Soccer Committee, has proposed major changes to Division I college soccer, including men’s and potentially women’s programs. These reforms aim to modernize the sport and bring it closer to professional standards.
One of the biggest updates is the extension of the college soccer season, turning it into a full academic year sport. This would give players more time to train, recover, and compete at a high level.
Let’s take a closer look at what this proposal means and how it could impact your athletic future.
Why Is College Soccer Facing Major Changes?
The college soccer season is played during the Fall semester, starting in August and finalizing in November or December, depending on how far universities go in the NCAA Tournament. Teams often play two games per week, which creates a tight and demanding schedule.
This system has been criticized for being too compressed, financially strained, and disconnected from global soccer standards.
On October 16, 2025, U.S. Soccer and the NextGen College Soccer Committee published a white paper proposing major reforms to address these issues. The key suggestions include transforming Division I soccer into a year-round sport, creating regional leagues to reduce travel, introducing a promotion and relegation system, and increasing flexibility around players’ eligibility.
The proposal is a transformative step towards a more professional future for college soccer.
What Are the Major Changes Proposed by US Soccer?
- Extending college soccer season
Under this model, the season will begin in August and finish in April, with a winter break between December and January and a national championship held in May. Matches would be played on weekends, rather than having multiple games in a week. This aligns college soccer with professional schedules seen in European leagues and MLS.
- Regionalization
The proposal suggests that college soccer should separate from the usual conference system and create four big regional leagues, each with about 50–54 teams. Each region would have two competitive levels: a top tier and a lower tier. In the top level, there would be two divisions of nine teams each, while the lower level would include four divisions organized geographically.
Throughout the year, teams would play other universities in their division twice, plus a few matches against teams from outside their division. There will be a total of 18–22 games in the season.
- Promotion-relegation model
This system would allow teams to move up or down between tiers based on their performance, just like in professional leagues around the world.
- More professional opportunities
Right now, college athletes can’t play with professional clubs. The new model would change that, allowing players to train or play with professional teams in the offseason without losing eligibility. U.S. Soccer also suggests letting athletes who have played professionally return to college soccer.
What Are the Benefits of These Reforms?
The US Soccer proposal would bring many benefits to college soccer, including:
- Improved student-athlete experience with more rest and better competition balance.
- Better player development through longer, higher-quality seasons.
- Reduced travel costs thanks to regional leagues.
- Stronger professional pathways, allowing players to connect with clubs in MLS, USL, or even abroad.
- Enhanced visibility and commercial growth with better broadcasting opportunities.
When Will These Changes Happen?
The goal is to introduce the new system for Division I men’s soccer as early as the 2026–27 academic year, depending on approval from the NCAA and universities. Changes to women’s college soccer may follow later, since the structure and number of teams differ from the men’s game.
The proposal is expected to experience some resistance, as it requires major financial and administrative adjustments.
How Does This Affect Me?
The US Soccer and NextGen College Soccer Committee proposal opens the door to a more professional experience, offering better training conditions and a clearer path to pro teams. It allows players to chase their professional dreams while earning a college degree. If approved by the NCAA, it could become one of the most significant reforms in the history of college sports.
The key changes proposed include:
- Extension of the college soccer season to a full academic year
- Regionalization of college soccer leagues
- Introduction of a promotion and relegation system
- Allowing players to train or play with professional clubs without losing college eligibility
At Keystone Sports, we specialize in supporting student-athletes who want to play college soccer in the US. Whether it’s finding sports scholarships or understanding eligibility rules like this, we’re here to help you along the way.
Ready to learn more about your options? Reach out to us today, and let’s explore how you can make the most of your college sports journey!
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About the author
Lorena Montañés
Lorena Montañés, SEO Specialist at Keystone Sports, pursued her career in the U.S., playing DI soccer at California State University, Fresno. There, she earned degrees in Mass Communication & Journalism and Psychology. She later completed an MBA in Business Analytics while coaching at a Division II university. Now, she aims to empower other student-athletes to achieve their dreams and have a life-changing experience.
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