The NCAA’s Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees proposed new first contest dates starting in 2025-26 on Thursday.
As of July 18, the 2025-26 season will commence on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for both men and women. The proposed alteration would move the first game of the season to Nov. 5 for the D-I men and Nov. 3 for the D-I women.
Not only would this blueprint standardize the college basketball campaign to 22 weeks each year, but it would also stagger first contest dates for the men and women to overcome television roadblocks and venue issues.
The Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee also believes switching first game days will provide D-I women’s basketball extra marketing exposure, per NCAA Associate Director of Communications Greg Johnson.
As of the 2024-25 season, both the men’s and women’s campaigns range between 21 and 22 weeks. This proposal would ultimately eliminate fluctuating timetables and provide stability regardless of championship schedules.
A proposal has been made to alter the start date of the DI men's and women's basketball seasons.https://t.co/kYk3kSxQXe
— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) July 18, 2024
The committees have manufactured an outline for what the ensuing six seasons of NCAA Division I basketball could look like in their proposal. In each year, the women would begin their seasons two days earlier than the men.
Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team kick-started its 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 last year while Marisa Moseley’s crew began their slate on Nov. 7. Both games were held at the Kohl Center.
