FORT MYERS, Fla. – NCAA Division I Men's Soccer will change its playing season to the fall and spring semesters, effective Aug. 1, 2027, the Division I Men's Soccer Oversight Committee announced Wednesday.

"The new two-semester model gives our athletes and program the time to train, prepare, develop, and compete at a higher level," FGCU head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said. "By creating a healthier balance between competition, rest, and recovery, it elevates both player performance and the overall quality of the game. This structure more closely mirrors the professional calendar, better preparing student-athletes for long-term success while allowing us to continue being a place where top young players can develop their craft and reach their full potential."

Under the legislation, the Division I men's soccer championship segment is redistributed across two semesters, maintaining the current maximum contest limit of 25. Division I men's soccer teams could play a maximum of 18 contests during the fall segment, starting in late August and going until the Saturday before Thanksgiving. 

The spring segment would begin in mid-February, with teams playing a maximum of 10 contests before the Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The Division I Men's Soccer Championship will be moved to the spring, and the specific dates for the postseason will be determined later. Currently, the NCAA Division I men's soccer season is played in a 10- to 13-week fall window, with the Men's College Cup taking place in December.

Twelvetrees will enter his second year with FGCU in 2026, and his third in the 2027-28 campaign. The Eagles tied with No. 18 Gardner-Webb 1-1 on the road, earned a 3-1 road win over Memphis and defeated North Florida 1-0 at home, among other wins in his inaugural campaign.

The committee's action is subject to review by the Division I Cabinet during its June 23-24 meeting.

This playing season model was introduced in January by the Men's Soccer Oversight Committee through the new Division I governance structure. 

Rationale for the recommendation focuses on benefits for student-athletes. These include: 

•             A more balanced academic and athletic experience by reducing time demands in any single term.
•             A decompressed playing season with potentially fewer midweek games, resulting in less missed class time and promoting stronger academic performance and degree completion.
•             More predictable weekly schedules across fall and spring.
•             Opportunity for enhanced recovery time between matches, which could support injury prevention and return-to-play protocols.
•             Stronger integration into campus life and deeper engagement with teammates and coaches.

Notification-of-transfer window

The Men's Soccer Oversight Committee also adopted an adjustment to the Division I men's soccer notification-of-transfer process. Starting with the 2027-28 academic year, Division I men's soccer would have one 15-consecutive-day window in the spring, which would open the day after the Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
Currently, the Division I men's soccer transfer window is 45 days, split into two windows.
 
For more information on FGCU men's soccer, follow @FGCU_MSoccer on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.