If NFL wants to play on Wednesday, college football should do it first

The NFL is exploring the possibility of opening its 2026 regular season with a game on a Wednesday, potentially in Melbourne, Australia. This move would allow the NFL to also hold its traditional Thursday Night Football game, effectively dominating the week's sports calendar. The proposed schedule shift is influenced by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which restricts NFL games on the second Friday of September, leading to the consideration of a Wednesday opener.

This development signals a challenge to college football, urging the sport to innovate its scheduling to maintain visibility. Suggestions include moving college games to Tuesday and Wednesday nights in August, capitalizing on the NFL's absence on these days. Such a shift could also facilitate an earlier start to the college football season, allowing the College Football Playoff to occur in early December, when the NFL is legally barred from playing on Saturdays.

Additionally, college football is encouraged to consider mid-August games as part of a pre-season showcase, providing teams with recovery time before their regular seasons begin.