College football coaches are raising serious concerns as the sport reaches what many consider a breaking point. The primary issue stems from the simultaneous occurrence of the playoffs, the transfer portal opening, and National Signing Day. This collision of major events in a single month has created an unsustainable workload for coaching staffs across the country.

Coaches Describe a Scheduling Nightmare

Prominent figures in the sport have been vocal about the mental and physical toll of the current system. James Madison coach Billy Napier has characterized the current schedule as an absolute nightmare. Similarly Miami coach Mario Cristobal noted that coaches are forced to essentially cancel Christmas to maintain a balance between essential game preparation and high stakes recruiting.

The Reality of Working Two Jobs at Once

The current calendar often forces coaches into impossible situations where they must perform two distinct and demanding roles simultaneously. Leaders like Will Stein have found themselves coaching for a National Title while simultaneously recruiting for a completely new program. This level of fragmentation makes it increasingly difficult to dedicate the necessary time to current players while securing the future of the roster.

An Urgent Call for Structural Change

The consensus among many leaders in the industry is that the sport cannot continue on its current path without significant adjustments. Tulane coach Will Hall has explicitly warned that the sport must fix the calendar before it reaches a true breaking point. Without a reorganized schedule that separates the postseason from the primary recruiting and transfer windows the pressure on coaches and programs will only continue to intensify.