TBD in football means "to be determined." This abbreviation can be used in a multitude of subjects within the sport that can include but are not limited to schedules, labor disputes, rankings and injury reports.
Basically, if there is any uncertainty about a future event, TBD is commonly used until more information becomes available.
Schedules
During the offseason, football teams don't know who they will play during the upcoming season until a schedule is released. In the NFL, teams do not have a set schedule until April, so before they receive it, when exactly they play their opponents is TBD.
Injury Reports
TBD can also refer to the status of a player's injury during a game. For example, if a player breaks his hand during a game, the severity of his injury can be listed TBD until tests are completed. His return to the game can be TBD while he is diagnosed, and his return to the next game is considered TBD based on the severity of the injury.
College Football Rankings
In college football, where teams are ranked by several polls, a team's rank can fall or rise depending on how the team faired that weekend.
For example, if the No.1 ranked team in the nation loses to an unranked team, the loser's ranking will be dramatically affected by the loss. Until the new rankings are released based on several polls (Associated Press Top 25, the Coaches Poll and the BCS computer ranking), the teams' new rankings are TBD.
NFL Lockout
Since March 2011, the NFL has experienced a lockout stemming from a labor dispute between the owners and players over the collective bargaining agreement. Although the 2011 season is tentatively scheduled to begin Sept. 8, until the labor dispute is settled, when exactly the 2011 season will begin is TBD.
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