FAYETTEVILLE — An NCAA proposal adopted Wednesday will bring uniform preseason start dates to college football.
Beginning later this year, teams can begin their 25-practice preseason schedule no more than 29 days before their first scheduled game. That is a change from recent years in which a formula was used to determine preseason start dates at each school, limiting some practice opportunities for schools that begin classes in September.
Arkansas' first scheduled game of the 2018 season is against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1, meaning the earliest the Razorbacks can begin preseason practice is Aug. 3. Arkansas began preseason practice on July 27 prior to last season.
The NCAA proposal adopted Wednesday also eliminates some mandatory off days for players during the preseason. Under the new rules, players are required to take one day off from practice each week, but still can be asked to come in for up to two hours of film sessions or meetings on those days.
Players will be given one day off beginning the first week of class or the week of the first game, whichever is earliest.