NCAA Changes Rule: Will Allow HBCU Division II Football Schools to Play in Week One

A year after turning down a waiver for a Week One football game between HBCU conferences, the NCAA has changed the rules regarding games before Labor Day for Division II schools.

The NCAA Division II council has approved a rule change, 2024-1, allowing member institutions to participate in their first football contest with outside competition one week prior to the Thursday preceding September 6. This modification grants Division II schools an additional week to complete their regular season football schedule, offering flexibility to schedule and play a maximum of 11 regular season football contests over a 12-week period. The change aims to benefit student-athletes’ health and safety by allowing for a bye/off week in the schedule, reducing the burden of finding non-conference opponents, and providing added flexibility for unique opportunities such as sponsored or destination-site football contests.

The decision follows a denied waiver request from HBCU conferences, specifically the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), for a Week One football game between their champions. The proposed game, featuring Benedict College (SIAC) and Fayetteville State (CIAA), was intended to take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023. Historically, such early-season games have been played between Div. I FBS or FCS programs. The change in rules allows Division II institutions to engage in outside competition one week earlier, providing opportunities for strategic scheduling, financial benefits, and special events like the Red Tails Classic and the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.

SIAC Commissioner Dr. Anthony Holloman expressed satisfaction with the legislative exception, highlighting its positive impact on Division II football. The change is seen as a win for the SIAC and its member institutions, offering them the flexibility to optimize their football schedules and potentially monetize certain play dates.

“The SIAC and its member institutions are pleased that this permissive legislation has passed,” Dr. Holloman told HBCU Gameday. “Paving the way for our football playing schools to, in some cases monetize this play date with games like the Red Tails Classic and the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic and in other cases utilizing the bye week for strategic scheduling purposes. A true win for Division II Football.”

Benedict College, the reigning SIAC champion, and Virginia Union, the reigning CIAA champion, are expected to benefit from this rule change in the upcoming football season.