12 regular season games. My point is that the P2 schools would have play either 9 conference games + 2 OOC games or 8 conference games + 3 OOC games to create an open date on the current regular season schedule to play a conference semi-final round in football. Even if the P2 schools were willing to play 11 regular season games and give up 1-2 OOC games (depending on whether they play 8 or 9 conference games), it still may require changing at least 1 of the bylaws (17.11.6.1(b)). Below are the bylaws which are the basis for why I said what I did in the previous post. 17.11.5 End of Playing Season. [FBS/FCS] A member institution's last contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in football shall not be played after the second Saturday or the following Sunday in December, except for the following: (Revised: 1/11/89, 1/10/90, 1/10/91, 1/10/92, 1/16/93, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 8/5/99, 4/27/06, 12/15/06, 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08, 10/28/10, 10/27/11 effective 4/1/12, 6/8/15) (b) Postseason Games, NCAA and NAIA Championships, International Competition and Celebration Bowl. Permissible postseason games that meet the requirements of Bylaw 18.7 and the NCAA postseason football handbook or those games played in the Division I Football Championship; football contests played on a foreign tour certified by the member institution; or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics football championships. In championship subdivision football only, a member institution's last contest also may include participation in the Celebration Bowl. 17.11.6 Number of Contests. [FBS/FCS] 17.11.6.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. [FBS/FCS] In bowl subdivision football, a member institution shall limit its total regular-season playing schedule with outside competition during the permissible football playing season in any one year to 12 contests (games or scrimmages), except as provided for member institutions located in Alaska and Hawaii, under Bylaw 17.31.2, and except as provided for all members under Bylaw 17.11.6.2. In championship subdivision football, a member institution shall limit its total regular-season playing schedule with outside competition during the permissible football playing season in any one year to 11 contests (games or scrimmages), except as provided for member institutions located in Alaska and Hawaii, under Bylaw 17.31.2, and except as provided for all members under Bylaw 17.11.6.2. Twelve football contests shall be permissible during those years in which there are 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November (e.g., 2024, 2025). (Revised: 1/12/99 effective 8/1/02, 8/5/99 effective 8/1/02, 4/28/05 effective 8/1/06, 12/15/06) 17.11.6.2 Annual Exemptions. [FBS/FCS] 17.11.6.2.1 Bowl Subdivision. [FBS] In bowl subdivision football, the maximum number of football contests shall exclude the following: (Revised: 1/10/90, 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08, 10/28/10, 10/27/11 effective 4/1/12, Adopted: 8/2/12 effective 8/1/14, 1/15/16 effective 8/1/16, 5/18/22) (b) Conference Championship Game. One conference championship game; (c) Bowl Games. One postseason game that meets the requirements of Bylaw 18.7 and the NCAA postseason football handbook; (d) Additional Football Bowl Subdivision Postseason Game. One postseason game between the winners of two exempted postseason bowl games per Bylaw 17.11.6.2.1-(c). The participants in the two post-season bowl games will be selected by Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and independent institutions. g) Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico. Any football games played in Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico, respectively, either against or under the sponsorship of an active member institution located in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, by a Division I member institution located outside the areas in question; 17.31.2 Alaska/Hawaii, Additional Football Contest. Member institutions located in Alaska and Hawaii shall be permitted to exceed, by one, the maximum number of football contests permitted under Bylaw 17.11.6.1 but otherwise shall conform to the same maximum number of contests and dates of competition permitted other members of the Association. ** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 7/15/2024, 4:22:04 PM