In 1894, Yale arranged a challenging football schedule with games scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays from late September to late November, totaling 16 contests. No major college football team has had a 16-game season since then. However, in the present day, the landscape of college football is evolving rapidly. Teams like Texas and Penn State just completed their 16th game of the 2024 season, with Notre Dame and Ohio State set to play their final game on Jan. 20 in the College Football Playoff championship game to determine the national title.
Notre Dame’s coach, Marcus Freeman, emphasized the importance of having a plan, a dedicated team, and being adaptable to navigate the challenges of an extended season. The move to expand the College Football Playoff to 12 teams necessitated longer seasons for the finalists, with at least 16 games expected along the way due to the regular season, conference championships, and playoff rounds.
While playing 16-game seasons presents physical demands, it also offers the opportunity to compete for a national championship. Coaches like Ryan Day from Ohio State have focused on managing roster depth, talent acquisition, and practice strategies to ensure peak performance throughout the season.
The 16-game season is a rarity at the FBS level, with only three previous instances at the “major college” level dating back over a century. This new format poses challenges for fans, academically, and for the players themselves, who have faced increased physical demands. Despite the current season drawing to a close, preparations for the next season are underway, with transfers, recruits signing, coaching changes, and spring practice schedules being planned.
In South Bend and Columbus, the focus remains on the present season, highlighting the ongoing evolution of college football.
Miami head coach Manny Diaz expressed the need for a shift away from traditional spring football practices in favor of early summer OTAs and mini-camps. Diaz emphasized the already established success of this approach in professional leagues and advocated for college football to follow suit. “We need to get rid of spring football and move into early summer OTAs and mini-camps. We don’t have to invent this. The league has already figured it out. … We’re a spring sport now. We need to just act like that,” Diaz remarked.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden shared a contrasting perspective on the extended season, viewing it as a positive opportunity despite its challenges. Golden acknowledged the demanding nature of the season while also recognizing the ultimate goal of competing for a championship ring. “Most of these guys are navigating it as we go. Nobody’s done it before in college,” Golden reflected. “We listen to what the data says and go by it. It’s just an interesting time.”
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