NCAA DI Fall Championships Moved to Spring 2021

NCAA Division I championships for Fall sports will be moved to the Spring based on recommendations from the Division I Council which were approved by the Board of Directors on Tuesday.

As part of those recommendations, emergency legislation was also adopted that will prohibit midyear Fall sport enrollees from competing this Spring.

This will prevent a potential rush of athletes who may be participating in their sport at their current university this Fall, and then want to transfer at mid-year to compete in the same Fall sport at another university in the Spring.

Championship brackets in team sports will be filled with 75% of the normal number of qualifying teams. In addition, any contests completed this Fall will count toward championship qualification and can be considered by the selection committees.

Here are the schedules that have been established by the NCAA for Division I Fall sports teams to compete and qualify for championship selection in the Spring:

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country – Regular season competition is currently scheduled for Jan. 30 to March 5, with the championship scheduled for March 15. (Note: Due to concerns about athletes potentially competing in cross country, and then also indoor and outdoor track in the Spring, this scheduling is open to revision.)

Field Hockey – Regular season competition is scheduled for Feb. 12 to April 23, with semifinals and finals set for May 7-9.

FCS Football – 16 teams can qualify for playoffs to be conducted from April 18 to May 15. Up to 8 regular season games can be played within a period of 13 weeks to allow for weather conditions, COVID postponements and other factors. The championship will take place in mid-May.

Also, during this academic year FCS teams can have either “Fall ball” or “Spring practice” but not both. (FCS teams choosing to play in the Spring will be limited to 15 on-field practices this Fall.) FCS programs must declare when they are going to play their first game before they can begin practice this Fall.

Men’s and Women’s Soccer – Regular season will be Feb. 3 to April 17, with postseason selections on April 18. Finals will take place May 13-17.

Women’s Volleyball – Regular season will be Jan. 22 to April 3, with postseason selections on April 4. The semifinal and final will take place April 23-25.

Men’s Water Polo – Regular season will be Jan. 16 to March 6, with postseason selections on March 7. Semifinals and finals on March 19-21.