So, the NCAA's long overdue proposal to move Men's Soccer to a 2 semester Fall/Spring sport to match the international calendar was vetoed today. Over 241 schools at the D1 level voted against the change, largely on financial grounds.

The belief at the moment is the Top 80 Men's Soccer programs will break off and form their own league with support from US Soccer.

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/sources...665000b8e5

Quote:"I believe U.S. Soccer is going to step up and find another solution for the very interested schools...Maybe we get an FBS/FCS situation now. Maybe schools that don't want to do it can stay and keep doing what they're doing, and maybe we now create a situation for the schools that are interested in doing this. I think that could be a very likely outcome.”

— Maryland Coach Sasho Cirovski

Yay more separation. Is this the blueprint the P2 or P4 will use to leave us in football? To find a different sponsoring organization that better aligns to their wants?

I’ve been following this pretty closely. Looks like the 241 vote threshold to rescind was reached last night, but votes can still technically change until 5pm today.

If this is rescinded, this will end the SBC Men’s Soccer as a premier alliance. Marshall, WVU, and UCF are on record to be strongly in favor of it, as one would expect Kentucky and South Carolina to be as well. I was curious how ODU felt, but they voted to rescind, as has Coastal Carolina as our other playing member that voted to rescind.

Programs without MSOC teams on the Belt - Troy, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State - have voted to rescind.

Initially, coaches in the ACC, Big Ten, Sun Belt, American, and Big East were seen to be in favor of this, but it seem the American Conference administrators have all voted to rescind as a block, which seems like a backstab to the desires of their program’s coaches.

Outside of the “power conference” teams, proponents form the remaining seem to be relatively small (Marshall, Villanova, Oregon State, Akron, UMKC).

If the ACC or Big Ten take either the US Soccer structure or the USL proposal in the near future as a result of this, the SBC will probably lose at least 5 of its 10 MSOC members. An affiliate member would allow the remaining SBC schools to continue as an NCAA conference, but at that point, SBC men’s soccer would effectively be demoted to “I-AA/FCS” second-tier status.

Many thought football would be the first to break away from the NCAA because of the money involved, but if it ends up being men’s soccer, then it makes it it much easier for other sports to fracture from the NCAA. I think this could be our future.

(11-06-2026 10:00 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  Programs without MSOC teams on the Belt - Troy, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State - have voted to rescind.

Why do we have a vote in a sport we don't compete in?

(11-07-2026 12:56 AM)Luckyshot Wrote:  

(11-06-2026 10:00 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  Programs without MSOC teams on the Belt - Troy, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State - have voted to rescind.

Why do we have a vote in a sport we don't compete in?

Very weird rules. Essentially, because we are Division 1 members, we could in theory start a College Soccer program at any time. Even if we never intend to, so we get a vote.

The lobbying effort in this vote was wild. The CAA commisioner used a lot of capital to get this thing voted down. There were schools who voted the proposal down without talking to their own Soccer Coaches. Pitt voted to rescind despite their coach being a supporter of the move. Also, several Lacrosse coaches spent a ton of work getting this rescinded as Men's Soccer in the Spring would compete directly with lacrosse.

As for why several SBC programs vetoed. Its very similar as to why several Power 4 programs vetoed. Financial implications. I think you saw very real concern that Women's Soccer might eventually have to switch as well, and we struggle to keep Athletics afloat at this level as it is, that's just more expenses.

Its a lot of people who don't understand that Men's Soccer probably dies on the vine eventually if it doesn't make the switch, vetoing something they see as pointless. The reality is MLS has been very vocal that they feel that there College Soccer draft is a waste. Players play a ton of games in a short period of time, and are left wholly unprepared for pro ball when they rarely play more than 1 game a week and have multiple breaks built into the calendar. More and more young players are getting funneled into Academies and Under 21 setups rather than going to college.

The game at the Collegiate Level is at risk of getting left behind.

(11-07-2026 01:21 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(11-07-2026 12:56 AM)Luckyshot Wrote:  

(11-06-2026 10:00 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  Programs without MSOC teams on the Belt - Troy, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State - have voted to rescind.

Why do we have a vote in a sport we don't compete in?

Very weird rules. Essentially, because we are Division 1 members, we could in theory start a College Soccer program at any time. Even if we never intend to, so we get a vote.

The lobbying effort in this vote was wild. The CAA commisioner used a lot of capital to get this thing voted down. There were schools who voted the proposal down without talking to their own Soccer Coaches. Pitt voted to rescind despite their coach being a supporter of the move. Also, several Lacrosse coaches spent a ton of work getting this rescinded as Men's Soccer in the Spring would compete directly with lacrosse.

As for why several SBC programs vetoed. Its very similar as to why several Power 4 programs vetoed. Financial implications. I think you saw very real concern that Women's Soccer might eventually have to switch as well, and we struggle to keep Athletics afloat at this level as it is, that's just more expenses.

Its a lot of people who don't understand that Men's Soccer probably dies on the vine eventually if it doesn't make the switch, vetoing something they see as pointless. The reality is MLS has been very vocal that they feel that there College Soccer draft is a waste. Players play a ton of games in a short period of time, and are left wholly unprepared for pro ball when they rarely play more than 1 game a week and have multiple breaks built into the calendar. More and more young players are getting funneled into Academies and Under 21 setups rather than going to college.

The game at the Collegiate Level is at risk of getting left behind.

If College Soccer brought in more revenue for schools it would be an easier sell. American soccer just doesn't have the pull or influence.

How cool would it be if those who break away take it as a chance to set up a system of promotion and relegation?

As I understand it, those in D1 women’s soccer were in favor of rescinding the new calendar.

Those opposed were concerned with the additional costs and strain on shared facilities.

The simple fact is that college soccer does not generate a ton of interest. At best, it’s 4th in line behind football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. It’s a money loser (although it’s a great sport).

I seriously doubt that a men’s soccer breakaway league will come to fruition.

Only fools believe there will be a split

(Yesterday 12:09 AM)warhawk09 Wrote:  Only fools believe there will be a split

Oh

There would have to be some form of organization, to handle rules and officiating and such, right? Where would the money come from for this?

(Yesterday 09:31 AM)Luckyshot Wrote:  There would have to be some form of organization, to handle rules and officiating and such, right? Where would the money come from for this?

US Soccer sponsoring college socccer as a farm initiative.