Latest news with #collegefootball
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
College football leaders revisit moving up season to Week Zero
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — College leaders are again exploring an earlier football kickoff date. Executives this week re-examined an issue that has, for years, been under discussion: making Week Zero a permanent playing date for college football teams. FBS leaders held more conversations on the long-discussed concept during the annual three-day gathering of Division I conference commissioners here this week. Advertisement Commissioners expect the conversation to continue in the coming weeks and months. While there is growing support for the move, no formal proposal has been introduced. That's not the case for FCS. The division is expected to formalize a proposal that permits schools to begin playing on Week Zero — a decision that would add a 12th regular season game to the schedule starting in 2026. For FBS, the decision is more complex. Some do not support shifting the season-opening week from Labor Day weekend — a holiday coinciding with a smorgasbord of college football. However, such a move creates an additional bye week for teams that choose to play on what would be the new Week 1 — an incentive that provides more rest during a college football season that continues to get extended. Advertisement 'My view is we should have a consistent start date,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. 'The adage is, teams make their most substantial improvement between Games 1 and 2. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football. 'The fact we are taking another look at it could be interesting,' Sankey said of permanently playing on Week Zero. 'I'm not opposed to that. I want to make sure it's a broad view of the issues and not something narrow.' For now, schools wanting to play on Week Zero must be granted a waiver by NCAA governance committees. Under NCAA bylaw 17.11.4, FBS teams cannot play their first game until the Thursday before Labor Day. However, an exception to the rule was instituted in 2016 (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.1), allowing Hawaii and teams that visit Hawaii the option to play on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Two years ago, there was the introduction of a foreign travel exemption (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.3), allowing Navy to face Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland. Advertisement Eliminating waivers across all NCAA areas has been a focal point for university leadership over the last several years, as they often result in difficult-to-defend legal challenges. 'We had a good discussion about the calendar and a uniform start date for FBS instead of continuing to deal with waiver requests, case by case,' American commissioner Tim Pernetti told Yahoo Sports. 'A consistent start date is a key element to the future of FBS.' Whether that standard start date will be in its current position or move up a week remains murky. Over the last three years, Week Zero has been central to discussions related to a long-discussed shift of the regular season by a week. Three years ago, College Football Playoff leaders spent several meetings discussing moving up the regular season by a week, which would shift rivalry games off of Thanksgiving, make conference championship weekend on that holiday and free up an extra weekend in December to hold rounds of a rapidly expanding playoff. Advertisement The latest conversations around Week Zero are, for now, not centered on a full shift in the regular season, though some hope, eventually, that will happen. The move from FCS to begin regularly playing on Week Zero may serve as a trigger for FBS. The two divisions often hold games against one another early in the season — quasi-preseason games for power programs looking to fine-tune a new team before bigger matchups on Labor Day weekend and beyond. Week Zero has been a popular playing date for a handful of teams, though the number is declining. Twelve games involving an FBS team were played on Week Zero in 2022. There are four FBS games scheduled for Week Zero this year — the same as last season.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
College football leaders rehashing moving up season to Week Zero
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — College leaders are again exploring an earlier football kickoff date. Executives this week re-examined an issue that has, for years, been under discussion: making Week Zero a permanent playing date for college football teams. FBS leaders held more conversations on the long-discussed concept during the annual three-day gathering of Division I conference commissioners here this week. Advertisement Commissioners expect the conversation to continue in the coming weeks and months. While there is growing support for the move, no formal proposal has been introduced. That's not the case for FCS. The division is expected to formalize a proposal that permits schools to begin playing on Week Zero — a decision that would add a 12th regular season game to the schedule starting in 2026. For FBS, the decision is more complex. Some do not support shifting the season-opening week from Labor Day weekend — a holiday coinciding with a smorgasbord of college football. However, such a move creates an additional bye week for teams that choose to play on what would be the new Week 1 — an incentive that provides more rest during a college football season that continues to get extended. Advertisement 'My view is we should have a consistent start date,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. 'The adage is, teams make their most substantial improvement between Games 1 and 2. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football. 'The fact we are taking another look at it could be interesting,' Sankey said of permanently playing on Week Zero. 'I'm not opposed to that. I want to make sure it's a broad view of the issues and not something narrow.' For now, schools wanting to play on Week Zero must be granted a waiver by NCAA governance committees. Under NCAA bylaw 17.11.4, FBS teams cannot play their first game until the Thursday before Labor Day. However, an exception to the rule was instituted in 2016 (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.1), allowing Hawaii and teams that visit Hawaii the option to play on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Two years ago, there was the introduction of a foreign travel exemption (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.3), allowing Navy to face Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland. Advertisement Eliminating waivers across all NCAA areas has been a focal point for university leadership over the last several years, as they often result in difficult-to-defend legal challenges. 'We had a good discussion about the calendar and a uniform start date for FBS instead of continuing to deal with waiver requests, case by case,' American commissioner Tim Pernetti told Yahoo Sports. 'A consistent start date is a key element to the future of FBS.' Whether that standard start date will be in its current position or move up a week remains murky. Over the last three years, Week Zero has been central to discussions related to a long-discussed shift of the regular season by a week. Three years ago, College Football Playoff leaders spent several meetings discussing moving up the regular season by a week, which would shift rivalry games off of Thanksgiving, make conference championship weekend on that holiday and free up an extra weekend in December to hold rounds of a rapidly expanding playoff. Advertisement The latest conversations around Week Zero are, for now, not centered on a full shift in the regular season, though some hope, eventually, that will happen. The move from FCS to begin regularly playing on Week Zero may serve as a trigger for FBS. The two divisions often hold games against one another early in the season — quasi-preseason games for power programs looking to fine-tune a new team before bigger matchups on Labor Day weekend and beyond. Week Zero has been a popular playing date for a handful of teams, though the number is declining. Twelve games involving an FBS team were played on Week Zero in 2022. There are four FBS games scheduled for Week Zero this year — the same as last season.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: Alabama, Louisville, Rivals Five-Star
Jeff McCulloch/ Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has predictions on an SEC program going on a strong run in recruiting, Louisville adding a surprise commitment and an unexpected headliner at the Rivals Five-Star. Advertisement RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Key OL storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy MORE PREDICTIONS: Rivals Five-Star, Illinois, Oregon CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State THE ALABAMA RUN HAS JUST BEGUN With a big quarterback flip of Elite 11 recruit and blue-chipper Jett Thomalla, Alabama is poised to go on one of the nation's biggest runs in the middle of the summer months. Official visit windows wrap up this week and it coincides with plenty of big fish the Crimson Tide are chasing relative to visits and/or commitment windows. Advertisement Among them are five-stars Cederian Morgan, Jireh Edwards and Tank Jones, with Morgan and Jones being in-state targets. Throw in running back Ezavier Crowell and fellow Yellowhammer State native Xavier Griffin inching closer to decisions, and the foundation of Kalen DeBoer's next great class in Tuscaloosa would appear all but set. Alabama should be on the plus side of more of these decisions than not. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT DJ WILLIAMS SURPRISES WITH LOUISVILLE COMMITMENT With Ole Miss grabbing the final official visit of DJ Williams' June tour, there has been some buzz for the Rebels to strike with the two-way talent. But as the decision date draws closer, it's the first official visit destination that may have set the bar so high others could not catch up. Advertisement Williams began his visits at Louisville the very first open official visit window of June and the offensive-minded staff views him as a game-breaking pass catcher at the next level. Word is Williams prefers to play wide receiver and that is one of the reasons the Cardinals now go into the announcement window as the program to beat. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LOUISVILLE FANS AT A 2028 PROSPECT WILL STEAL THE SHOW AT THE RIVALS FIVE-STAR The Rivals Five-Star is just days away from kicking off in Indianapolis and throughout the preview content we've built up at Rivals, there is an intriguing name that continues to pop up – Eric McFarland. The athlete has chops at both running back and wide receiver, and he has become one of the stars of the college football recruiting offseason with his blistering production at various events. This will be the most competitive to date, but McFarland has risen to every challenge sent his way thus far, so it's foolish to assume he would slow down despite the dozens of fellow blue-chip recruits that will line up on the other side of the ball with hopes to. The IMG Academy product will be the talk of the event by dinner time on June 24.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia football's 2025 schedule after latest kickoff time announcements
We are less than three months away from the Georgia Bulldogs' 2025 season opener against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Aug. 30. The Bulldogs will have a new feel this fall with redshirt junior Gunner Stockton projected to start at quarterback. Stockton and Georgia have a manageable start to the 2025 season. The Bulldogs open the year with back-to-back home games against non-Power Four opponents in Marshall and Austin Peay. Georgia's first real test comes in Week 3 as the Dawgs hit the road to play the Tennessee Volunteers. Advertisement Following a recent announcement from the Southeastern Conference, we now know the kickoff time (or approximate time) for all 12 of Georgia's regular season games. The Bulldogs start the season with three straight 3:30 p.m. ET games before hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide at home for a night game (7:30 p.m. ET) in Week 5. Overall, the Bulldogs have three noon games (includes one 12:45 p.m. kickoff), five 3:30 p.m. games, two night games and a pair of flex games (could be afternoon or night) this fall. Georgia's schedule features great home games against Texas, Ole Miss and Alabama. The Dawgs have a manageable road slate with contests at Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State. Georgia plays seven home games, three road games and two neutral site games (Florida and Georgia Tech). Georgia football's 2025 schedule Night kickoff time (at Auburn): 6 to 8 p.m. start. Flex kickoff time (versus Texas, Ole Miss): afternoon (3:30 to 4:30 p.m.) start or night (6 to 8 p.m.) kickoff. This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Updated Georgia Bulldogs football 2025 schedule
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Every game in Georgia football's 31 game home winning streak
The Georgia Bulldogs have won 31 straight games in Sanford Stadium, which is the the longest active home winning streak in college football. The Bulldogs impressively have 20 consecutive home wins against SEC opponents. Georgia has a challenging 2025 home schedule, so the Bulldogs' winning streak could be coming to a close. Georgia claimed college football's longest home win streak after the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 9, 2023. Advertisement In 2024, the Bulldogs capped a fifth consecutive undefeated season at home with a dramatic eight-overtime win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. This game was easily Georgia's most improbable win during the streak. Georgia came back from a 17-point halftime deficit and at one point, Georgia Tech had a 98.5% chance to win. Georgia's last home defeat came on Oct. 14, 2019, to South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gamecocks won 20-17 in double overtime. The last team to defeat Georgia in regulation at home was Georgia Tech back on Nov. 26, 2016. Georgia has won two national championships and two SEC championships since their last home defeat. Every game in Georgia's current home winning streak The Georgia Bulldogs react after winning 44-42 over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in eighth overtime at Sanford Stadium 1. Oct. 19, 2019: Georgia 21, Kentucky 0 Advertisement 2. Nov. 9, 2019: Georgia 27, Missouri 0 3. Nov. 23, 2019: Georgia 19, Texas A&M 13 4. Oct. 3, 2020: Georgia 27, Auburn 6 5. Oct. 10, 2020: Georgia 44, Tennessee 21 6. Nov. 21, 2020: Georgia 31, Mississippi State 24 7. Sept. 11, 2021: Georgia 56, UAB 7 8. Sept. 18, 2021: Georgia 40, South Carolina 13 9. Oct. 2, 2021: Georgia 37, Arkansas 0 10. Oct. 16, 2021: Georgia 30, Kentucky 13 11. Nov. 6, 2021: Georgia 43, Missouri 6 12. Nov. 20, 2021: Georgia 56, Charleston Southern 7 13. Sept. 10, 2022: Georgia 33, Samford 0 14. Sept. 10, 2022: Georgia 39, Kent State 22 15. Oct. 8, 2022: Georgia 42, Auburn 10 16. Oct. 15, 2022: Georgia 55, Vanderbilt 0 Advertisement 17. Nov. 5, 2022: Georgia 27, Tennessee 13 18. Nov. 26, 2022: Georgia 37, Georgia Tech 14 19. Sept. 2, 2023: Georgia 48, UT Martin 7 20. Sept. 9, 2023: Georgia 45, Ball State 3 21. Sept. 16, 2023: Georgia 24, South Carolina 14 22. Sept. 23, 2023: Georgia 49, UAB 21 23. Oct. 7, 2023: Georgia 51, Kentucky 13 24. Nov. 4, 2023: Georgia 30, Missouri 21 25. Nov. 11, 2023: Georgia 52, Ole Miss 17 26. Sept. 7, 2024: Georgia 48, Tennessee Tech 3 27. Oct. 5, 2024: Georgia 31, Auburn 13 28. Oct. 12, 2024: Georgia 41, Mississippi State 31 29. Nov. 16, 2024: Georgia 31, Tennessee 17 30. Nov. 23, 2024: Georgia 59, UMass 21 31. Nov. 29, 2024: Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 42 (8OT) Follow UGAWire on X or Instagram! This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Every game during Georgia's epic 31 game home winning streak
