When is football season? The NFL, college football, and high school football all follow different calendars. The NFL runs from early September through early February, college football runs from late August through early January, and high school football spans from August through December.
Quick Overview
- NFL Season: Early September – Early February (includes playoffs & Super Bowl)
- College Football Season (NCAA): Late August – Early January
- High School Football Season: August – December
- Spring Football (select leagues): February – July
NFL Season
The National Football League season begins with the regular season in early September and continues for 18 weeks. Each team plays 17 games with one bye week. The NFL Playoffs start in January and lead into the Super Bowl in early February.
The NFL also includes:
- Preseason: August
- Regular Season: September – January
- Playoffs: January
- Super Bowl: Early February
College Football Season (NCAA)
College football kicks off earlier than the NFL. Most Division I teams begin play in late August. The season runs through November, followed by conference championships and bowl games in December.
The postseason includes:
- Conference Championships: Early December
- Bowl Games: Mid–Late December
- College Football Playoff (CFP): Late December – Early January
The national championship is held in early January.
High School Football Season
High school football typically starts in mid-August with practices and scrimmages, followed by regular season games beginning late August or early September. Most states finish the season by late November or early December.
- Preseason: Early–Mid August
- Regular Season: Late August – November
- State Playoffs: November – December
Spring Football Leagues
Outside traditional fall football, several spring leagues operate:
- UFL (formerly XFL/USFL): February – June
- Indoor Football Leagues: March – July
- Some high schools and colleges: hold “spring football” practices but not official seasons
These leagues fill the winter–spring gap and offer additional football outside the fall calendar.
Youth Football Seasons
Youth football leagues vary by region but typically follow one of two patterns:
- Fall Youth Leagues: August – November (most common)
- Spring Youth Leagues: March – May (select states)
Summary Table
| Level | Main Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | Sept – Feb | Super Bowl in early February |
| NCAA | Aug – Jan | CFP & bowl games extend into January |
| High School | Aug – Dec | State playoffs vary by region |
| Spring Leagues | Feb – July | UFL & indoor leagues |
References
- NFL – Official Schedule
- NCAA – Football Season Overview
- MaxPreps – High School Football Schedules
- UFL – United Football League (Spring League)
Michael Simon
