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NCAA Football Recruiting Calendar 2026-27

Division I and Division II · from the NCAA's published 2026-27 calendars

As of October 23, 2026: D1 FBS football: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026; D1 FCS football: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026; D2 football: Contact period until Nov 29, 2026 (Division II is a contact period all year except the listed dead periods).

Where every football calendar stands today

Division I FBS football

Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026.

Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 31, 2026.

Division I FCS football

Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026.

Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 3, 2026.

Division II football

Contact period until Nov 29, 2026 (Division II is a contact period all year except the listed dead periods).

Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2026.

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Division I FBS football recruiting calendar 2026-27

Estimated Source: NCAA Division I FBS football calendar (PDF). Official NCAA 'Fall 2026-27' FBS calendar (updated July 30, 2026) covers Aug. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 only. Jan.-Jul. 2027 is estimated from the 2025-26 FBS calendar: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar/2025-26/2025-26D1Rec_FBSMFBRecruitingCalendar.pdf

Today: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026. Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 31, 2026.

Current and upcoming periods
DatesPeriod
Sep 1 – Nov 29, 2026Evaluation period33 evaluation days per school (42 for U.S. service academies).
Nov 30 – Dec 31, 2026Dead periodCovers the December early signing period.
Jan 1–3, 2027Dead periodEstimated
Jan 4–31, 2027Contact periodEstimatedIn 2025-26 this contact period included a 1-day quiet period and a 3-day dead period around the AFCA coaches convention (Jan. 11 and Jan. 12-14, 2026); 2027 convention dates not reflected.
Feb 1 – Mar 1, 2027Dead periodEstimatedIncludes the February signing date. (2025-26: Feb. 1 quiet, Feb. 2-Mar. 1 dead.)
Mar 2 – Apr 14, 2027Quiet periodEstimated
Apr 15 – May 23, 2027Contact periodEstimatedSpring contact period, 140 recruiting-person days (180 for service academies).
May 24–27, 2027Dead periodEstimated
May 28 – Jun 21, 2027Quiet periodEstimatedOfficial visits typically take place in this window.
Jun 22 – Jul 31, 2027Dead periodEstimated
Earlier 2026-27 periods (1)
DatesPeriod
Aug 1–31, 2026Dead periodException: quiet period from 48 hours before through 48 hours after a home contest held in August or on Sept. 1-2.

Division I FCS football recruiting calendar 2026-27

Estimated Source: NCAA Division I FCS football calendar (PDF). Official NCAA 'Fall 2026-27' FCS calendar (updated July 30, 2026) covers Aug. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 only. Jan.-Jul. 2027 is estimated from the 2025-26 FCS calendar: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar/2025-26/2025-26D1Rec_FCSMFBRecruitingCalendar.pdf

Today: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026. Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 3, 2026.

Current and upcoming periods
DatesPeriod
Sep 1 – Nov 29, 2026Evaluation period33 evaluation days per school (42 for U.S. service academies).
Nov 30 – Dec 3, 2026Dead period
Dec 4–17, 2026Contact periodThe PDF's legend says 'Dec 4-18' but its calendar grid shades Dec. 18 as quiet. We use the grid.
Dec 18–20, 2026Quiet period
Dec 21–31, 2026Dead period
Jan 1–3, 2027Dead periodEstimated
Jan 4–31, 2027Contact periodEstimatedIn 2025-26 this contact period included a 1-day quiet period and a 3-day dead period around the AFCA coaches convention (Jan. 11 and Jan. 12-14, 2026); 2027 convention dates not reflected.
Feb 1 – Mar 1, 2027Dead periodEstimatedIncludes the February signing date. (2025-26: Feb. 1 quiet, Feb. 2-Mar. 1 dead.)
Mar 2 – Apr 14, 2027Quiet periodEstimated
Apr 15 – May 23, 2027Contact periodEstimatedSpring contact period, 140 recruiting-person days (180 for service academies).
May 24–27, 2027Dead periodEstimated
May 28 – Jun 21, 2027Quiet periodEstimatedOfficial visits typically take place in this window.
Jun 22 – Jul 31, 2027Dead periodEstimated
Earlier 2026-27 periods (1)
DatesPeriod
Aug 1–31, 2026Dead periodException: quiet period from 48 hours before through 48 hours after a home contest held in August or on Sept. 1-2.

Division II football recruiting calendar 2026-27

Division II is a contact period all year except the dates below. Source: NCAA Division II football calendar (PDF).

Today: Contact period until Nov 29, 2026 (Division II is a contact period all year except the listed dead periods). Next: dead period Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2026.

Current and upcoming periods
DatesPeriod
Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2026Dead periodSigning-date dead period (Nov. 30 7 AM - Dec. 2 7 AM) for two-year college prospects enrolling midyear.
Dec 22, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027Dead period
Feb 1–3, 2027Dead periodSigning-date dead period (Feb. 1 7 AM - Feb. 3 7 AM).
Feb 15–17, 2027Dead period
May 29–31, 2027Dead period

Key dates 2026-27

DateWhat
Dec 2, 2026Football early signing period opens (D1)EstimatedD1 FBS football, D1 FCS football · Expected Dec. 2-4, 2026 (first Wednesday of December through Friday, same formula as Dec. 3-5, 2025). The NCAA's 2026-27 signing-dates PDF still shows 2025-26 dates; matches the FBS dead period starting Nov. 30, 2026. Verify.
Dec 2, 2026D2 football midyear two-year college signing dateD2 football · Based on the end of the D2 signing-date dead period.
Feb 3, 2027Football regular signing date (D1 and D2)D1 FBS football, D1 FCS football, D2 football · Matches the NCAA D2 2026-27 calendar (signing-date dead period Feb. 1 7 AM to Feb. 3 7 AM, 2027) and school-district signing-day guidance.

What each recruiting period means

Contact period
College coaches may have in-person contact with you and your family, on or off their campus, and may watch you play or practice.
Evaluation period
Coaches may watch you play or practice off campus (for example at your school or an approved event), but may not have in-person, off-campus contact with you.
Quiet period
In-person recruiting contact is allowed only on the college's campus. No in-person, off-campus contact and no off-campus evaluations.
Dead period
No in-person recruiting contact or evaluations, on or off campus, and no official or unofficial visits to the campus. Coaches may still call, text and email within the normal rules for your sport.
Recruiting shutdown
No recruiting of any kind: no contact, evaluations, official or unofficial visits, calls, texts, emails or DMs, and no liking or reposting a prospect's posts. (A Division I rule; contact with an athlete who has already signed is allowed.)

Periods limit what college coaches may do. You can email a coach at any time; whether and how a coach may answer depends on your sport, your grade and the period.

Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college

The NCAA publishes recruiting calendars for Division I (separate calendars for football, basketball, baseball, softball, women's volleyball and several other sports, plus one "Other Division I Sports" calendar) and Division II (one calendar for football and one for every other sport). The dates on this page come from those calendars.

NAIA and junior college programs (NJCAA, CCCAA and others) belong to separate associations, so the NCAA calendars on this page do not apply to them. Check with the program or its association for their rules.

Use the calendar to time your emails

You can email football coaches during any period. The calendar tells you when they can come to see you and when they can meet you in person. Before a contact or evaluation period, send your schedule so coaches can plan to watch you. Start with the college football coaches directory to find the staff at each program, then read how to email college coaches.

Recruiting guides

When can college coaches contact you?NCAA Division I and II contact rules, with sources.How to email college coachesWhat to put in the subject line and the first email.Recruiting email templatesFirst contact, follow-up, and after a camp.

Questions, answered

What NCAA football recruiting period is it right now?

As of October 23, 2026: Division I FBS football: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026. Division I FCS football: Evaluation period through Nov 29, 2026. Division II football: Contact period until Nov 29, 2026 (Division II is a contact period all year except the listed dead periods). Dates come from the NCAA's 2026-27 recruiting calendars.

When is the 2026-27 football signing date?

Football early signing period opens (D1): December 2, 2026 (estimated, not yet officially published). D2 football midyear two-year college signing date: December 2, 2026. Football regular signing date (D1 and D2): February 3, 2027.

Can I email a college coach during a dead period?

Yes. You can email a coach at any time. A dead period stops in-person contact, evaluations and campus visits, but coaches may still call, text and email during a dead period within the normal rules for your sport. A recruiting shutdown is stricter: no recruiting communication of any kind.

Does the NCAA recruiting calendar apply to Division III, NAIA or junior colleges?

The NCAA publishes recruiting calendars for Division I and Division II. NAIA and junior college programs belong to separate associations, so the NCAA calendars do not apply to them.

More calendars and coaches

All NCAA recruiting calendars 2026-27Every sport, Division I and II, with today's period.Basketball recruiting calendarNCAA basketball periods and signing dates 2026-27.Baseball recruiting calendarNCAA baseball periods and signing dates 2026-27.Softball recruiting calendarNCAA softball periods and signing dates 2026-27.Volleyball recruiting calendarNCAA volleyball periods and signing dates 2026-27.Soccer recruiting calendarNCAA soccer periods and signing dates 2026-27.College football coachesEvery program's coaching staff, by state and level.

Sources

Built from the NCAA's official 2026-27 recruiting calendar PDFs (ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com, updated July 30 and Aug. 4, 2026). NCAA rules change often, and some dates depend on championship schedules. Entries marked estimated are not yet officially published. This is informational only and does not replace the NCAA Manual or a college compliance office.

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