You probably think you know when college football ends. You've got the Thanksgiving rivalries marked in your head, the bowl games during the holidays, and then that big trophy ceremony in early January. But honestly? The calendar has shifted so much lately that if you aren't paying close attention, you’re basically missing a whole month of the sport.
It’s not just a "fall thing" anymore.
With the expansion of the playoffs and the way the NCAA structures its different divisions, the answer to how long is the college football season depends entirely on who you're rooting for and how good they actually are. If you’re a fan of a powerhouse like the Indiana Hoosiers or the Miami Hurricanes in this 2025-26 season, your "season" is a grueling marathon that stretches nearly five months. For everyone else, it’s a lot shorter.
The Regular Season Grind: August to December
Most folks consider "Week 0" the unofficial start. In 2025, that kicked off on August 23rd. It’s usually a handful of games, often involving teams traveling to Ireland or smaller schools getting some early TV time. But for the vast majority of the 136 FBS programs, the real deal starts Labor Day weekend.
From there, it’s a 12-game sprint.
The regular season for the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) officially wrapped up on December 13, 2025. That’s about 16 weeks of actual football when you account for bye weeks. Every team gets at least one Saturday off, and some get two, depending on how the calendar falls.
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Why the FCS is Different
It's worth noting that the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) plays a slightly different game. They usually play 11 regular-season games, though there's been a lot of talk about them moving to a permanent 12-game schedule by 2026. Their regular season often ends a week or two before the FBS because their playoff bracket is massive—24 teams! If you follow a school in the Missouri Valley or the Big Sky, your "regular" season is a tighter, more compact window that finishes right around Thanksgiving.
How the 12-Team Playoff Changed Everything
If you’re asking how long is the college football season in 2026, the biggest factor is the new playoff format. We used to have the "New Year's Six" and a four-team playoff that felt like a quick tournament. Now? It’s a full-blown NFL-style bracket.
This year, the first round of the playoffs started on December 19, 2025. We saw games at campus sites—places like Norman, Oklahoma and College Station—which was a wild vibe for mid-December.
- First Round: Mid-December (Dec 19–20)
- Quarterfinals: New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
- Semifinals: January 8–9, 2026
- National Championship: January 19, 2026
Think about that. If you made it to the title game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, you’ve been playing meaningful football for five months. That’s a massive physical toll on athletes who are also supposed to be, you know, students.
The Postseason Timeline: From Bowls to the Ship
For most teams, the season ends on a random Tuesday or Wednesday in December at a bowl game. There are roughly 41 bowl games now. They start around December 13th and run nearly every day until the first week of January.
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If your team isn't in the top 12, their season likely ends before you even flip the calendar to the new year.
But for the elite, the season length is now 16 or 17 games. The 2025-26 schedule saw the semifinals (Fiesta and Peach Bowls) take place in the second week of January, leaving a ten-day gap before the National Championship. That gap is controversial. Critics say it kills momentum; coaches say they need it to keep players from literally falling apart.
The "Hidden" Season: Recruiting and the Portal
Honestly, the season doesn't really "end" for the die-hards.
The minute the regular season finishes, the transfer portal opens. In 2026, we’ve seen a shift to a single two-week window in January (Jan 2 to Jan 16). This has turned the weeks between the semifinals and the championship into a chaotic mess of roster management.
Then you have the early signing period in December and the traditional National Signing Day in February. If you're a coach or a dedicated fan, the "football season" is really a 365-day cycle of anxiety. But in terms of actual pads-on-grass, you're looking at:
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- Spring Practice: March–April (about 15 sessions)
- Fall Camp: All of August
- Regular Season: Late August–Early December
- Postseason: Mid-December–Late January
Navigating the 2026 Calendar
If you're planning a trip or just trying to manage your Saturday schedule, remember that the "finish line" is moving further into January every year. Next year’s championship is rumored to be even later—January 25, 2027.
The sport is expanding. It's getting longer, louder, and more expensive.
To stay on top of it, don't just look at the Saturday schedule. Keep an eye on the "Week 0" announcements in the spring, as those games are often added late. Also, check your specific conference’s championship game date, as those usually fall on the first weekend of December and serve as the "bridge" between the regular season and the playoff chaos.
The best way to track the total length is to follow the CFP rankings starting in November. Once those are out, you can see if your team's season is ending in 12 games or if they're buckled in for the 17-game marathon that leads to Miami.
Your next move: Check your favorite team's 2026 non-conference schedule now. Most big programs have already booked their "Week 1" and "Week 0" slots, and knowing if they start in August or September will tell you exactly how long your personal football season is going to be.