NCAA football committee expected to approve extended preseason

The NCAA football oversight committee finalized a plan for an extended preseason that would include an additional two weeks for teams to hold walk-throughs.

The proposal goes to the Division I Council, which meets Tuesday, and is expected to be approved.

With the pandemic wiping out spring practice for most teams, along with the usual required summer activities for players such as weight training and film study, a plan was needed to make up for the lost preparation time.

A proposed schedule was circulating among NCAA members during the last week. Oversight committee chairman Shane Lyons, WVU’s athletic director, told the AP a few final tweaks were made Thursday. The final version permits teams to conduct the maximum six hours of unpadded walk-throughs per week while also requiring two days off for the players.

The extra two weeks of walk-throughs, weight training, conditioning and film study will be limited to 20 hours per week total and can begin 14 days prior to the start of normal 29-day preseason practice.

Teams are allowed to begin preseason practice 29 days before their scheduled first game.

Most major college football teams are set to kick off their seasons around Labor Day weekend, with a handful starting as early as Aug. 29.