US Soccer is pushing for sweeping reforms to men’s Division I college soccer — a complete reimagining that would replace long-standing conferences such as the Big Ten and ACC with a regional, tier-based system inspired by European football.
Under the proposal, all 213 Division I programs would be split into four regional conferences of roughly 50–54 teams each. Within each region, schools would be divided into two tiers:
- Top Tier: The most competitive programs, organized into two divisions of nine teams each.
- Second Tier: The remaining schools, grouped into four local divisions based on geography.
This approach would emphasize competitive balance while maintaining local rivalries, fundamentally reshaping how college soccer operates across the United States.
⸻
A New Season Format and Competitive Structure
The new system would also overhaul the college soccer calendar.
- The regular season would start in September, pause for December and January, and resume in February, with teams playing roughly one match per weekend.
- The national tournament would begin in April, with the championship held in late April or May.
Each team would play home-and-away matches against every divisional opponent, mirroring European pro leagues. Additionally, teams would have a few crossover games against non-divisional opponents.
After 18–22 regular-season games, 88 teams (22 per region) would qualify for an expanded postseason tournament. A play-in round would trim the field to 64, leading to the national championship.
⸻
Promotion and Relegation Comes to College Soccer
Perhaps the most revolutionary element of the plan is the introduction of promotion and relegation — a first for American college sports.
Teams would be ranked into tiers based on objective criteria in the first year. In subsequent years, programs could move up or down based on:
- On-field performance, similar to how promotion/relegation works in European leagues.
- Off-field factors, such as program investment, compliance, or academic standards.
This model could make college soccer more dynamic, competitive, and geographically balanced, reducing travel demands while raising the stakes for every match.
⸻
A Potential Turning Point for College Soccer
If adopted, this overhaul would mark one of the most significant changes in NCAA soccer history — breaking away from traditional conference alignments and bringing the sport closer to global standards.
By encouraging year-round competition, rewarding performance, and creating a pathway for smaller programs to rise, US Soccer’s proposed structure could transform college soccer into a more professional, development-focused environment aligned with the nation’s growing soccer ambitions.