INDIANAPOLIS -- Midnight Madness could begin earlier than usual this fall after the NCAA's Legislative Council approved a new rule.

One change would allow teams to hold up to 30 days of practice in the six weeks leading up to their first regular-season game. Previously, teams had only four weeks to get those practices in.

Another change would eliminate the starting time for the first permissible workouts. Currently, teams are not allowed to begin until 5 p.m. on the Friday closest to Oct. 15. The new rule would allow schools to make their own judgment about the starting time when practice begins.

Unless the NCAA's board of directors rejects the proposal at its May 2 meeting, the rule will go into effect this fall.

The rules would not apply to women's teams.