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Jeff Kassouf
A committee representing U.S. Soccer has proposed that men’s college soccer transition to a full academic year season, starting in the fall of 2026.
This suggestion follows U.S. Soccer commissioning the 17-member “NexGen College Soccer Committee” to explore ways to advance college soccer, aiming to better prepare athletes for professional careers and international competition.
While the committee indicated that more assessment is required for women’s college soccer, it noted that similar recommendations could arise. The report released on Thursday emphasized that it “strongly believes that any of these [four proposed] options are far superior to the existing model.”
Any proposed changes still require NCAA approval to overhaul a college soccer system that has traditionally developed American professional players—particularly women—yet has failed to adapt to the modern professional landscape. Historical issues include a limited season confined to the fall, which heavily burdens athletes during that period and leaves them with minimal competition during the year.
“These recommendations are intended to enhance the student-athlete experience, ensuring financial stability while creating more player development opportunities—key interests in college sports,” U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson told ESPN. “We’re hopeful for a swift progression.”
Batson was not a participant in the committee’s activities. Chaired by Dan Helfrich, the principal and former CEO of Deloitte Consulting, the group included leaders from MLS, NWSL, USL, along with athletic directors and a university president from various institutions.
Under the new proposal for men’s soccer, all 213 Division 1 men’s programs would still compete for the same championship but would be divided into regional groups based on tiers of similar competitiveness. This tier system could adapt over time, akin to promotion and relegation.
Initial estimates from the committee’s report suggest that this regionalized structure could save programs between $25,000 and $350,000 annually on operational expenses, depending on current travel arrangements. Many existing conferences have been realigned based on college football, often disregarding geography, which results in costly cross-country travel for in-conference matches.
Helfrich highlighted two main issues troubling college soccer: the tight schedules that hinder athletes’ recovery, and rising travel expenses stemming from preseason starts prior to students returning to campus.
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“This proposal aims to address those challenges,” he stated.
The proposed changes would specifically affect NCAA Division 1 soccer.
Preseason is set to commence in mid- to late-August, with the regular season continuing until April, featuring a break from games and training in December and January. Matches would primarily take place on weekends, rather than the current model of cramming several games weekly from August through December.
The championship is proposed to be held in May, allowing it to stand out by avoiding conflicts with other college championships, potentially enhancing its commercial appeal and providing greater visibility and support for college soccer.
This model is viewed as beneficial for all in college soccer, Helfrich remarked, not just those few aspiring for professional careers.
“We recognized that creating solutions needs to consider the experiences of the approximately 14,000-15,000 Division 1 soccer players, compared to the hundreds seeking professional play,” Helfrich explained to ESPN. “This was always our priority: ensuring our proposals were thoughtful for both groups.”
The committee met virtually every few weeks this year to develop the proposal and explore four potential pathways for college soccer’s future. The most conservative option discussed could potentially lead to a slightly extended fall season accompanied by an additional spring competition for top teams on the women’s side.
Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone, a three-time NCAA champion with North Carolina and a World Cup and Olympic gold medalist, initially proposed this concept to Batson and VP of Strategy Emily Cosler after discussions with UNC’s athletic director Bubba Cunningham about budget sustainability under the current structure. This sparked Cone’s initial “What if?” moment.
The women’s game differs in several respects, notably in having 350 Division 1 programs and a more pronounced gap in competitiveness between national contenders and mid-major teams.
Batson expressed concern that American women’s players in the college age group (18-22 years old) are not logging the same number of playing minutes as their European counterparts.
Cone and Helfrich both aspire to propose recommendations for women’s college soccer aimed for implementation in the 2027-28 academic year.
“There are more complexities within the women’s game, which is why we need a deeper dialogue and more understanding before finalizing what’s ideal for women’s soccer,” Cone explained to ESPN. “The plan for women may differ from men or be similar, but we need to assess it comprehensively through a female perspective. There is still work to be done.”
The path forward involves navigating NCAA processes, which have historically been slow-moving and burdened by bureaucracy, as seen with women’s college basketball, which fought for significant changes in recent years. However, recent advancements in the NIL (name, image, likeness) landscape have instilled confidence in U.S. Soccer for swift implementation of these changes. Cone remarked that everyone involved is “fully engaged.”
Helfrich indicated that the next step for the men’s college soccer initiative involves the committee having formal discussions with NCAA soccer sub-committees in the upcoming weeks, aiming to draft legislative proposals and timelines by the end of the year, with a target to launch the new system in August.
“I can assure you that neither the conferences nor the NCAA will be caught off guard by this announcement; we have been collaborative throughout this process,” Helfrich noted. “This approach aims to facilitate smoother governance discussions.”
The proposal includes enhancing player eligibility flexibility, addressing a critical issue particularly relevant to soccer where players sometimes turn pro as teenagers, jeopardizing their college eligibility. Proposed solutions include a “second chance” opportunity for players with stalled professional careers and expanded avenues for engagement with professional teams without forfeiting college eligibility.
These discussions are happening amidst the rise of development leagues in the U.S., with MLS Next and multiple USL tiers thriving in men’s soccer and the NWSL planning to establish a second division soon, alongside WPSL Pro, which could collectively generate over 1,000 new professional roster spots for women.
U.S. Soccer envisions these entities coexisting alongside college soccer and believes it is their responsibility to unify these efforts.
“This exemplifies how bringing together various segments of the American soccer ecosystem can yield impactful solutions,” Batson stated. “The American soccer landscape has expanded significantly over the past decades, yet there remains fragmentation. U.S. Soccer’s role is to be a facilitator and aligner, aiming to harness the tremendous energy in this sport toward outcomes that matter to us all. We aspire to make soccer accessible throughout the country and achieve success at every level. We are now a nation dedicated to soccer.”