College football is an ever-changing, always-evolving beast to keep up with every year. Whether it’s where did your favorite player portal to, where did our loyal coach cash in for more millions, or something as basic as the rules of play, one has to stay on top of their game as a fan to keep up.
This year is no exception, as college football dropped some more updates to become familiar with before you sit down on the couch in a couple of weeks and get blindsided by rule changes like a mad linebacker when the game is on the line.
Among the major revisions:
It took over eight decades, but college football has decided to follow in the footsteps of the professional ranks and include a two-minute warning at the end of each half. Each team will get a stoppage chance in the closing moments of the halves to strategize and personnel their way into better situations in key moments.
If you notice a green dot on one of the player’s helmets this year, you’re not hallucinating or about to lose consciousness. That player, and only that player, is allowed to have “coach-to-player communications through the helmet”. The link will be cut off with 15 seconds on the play clock or ball-snappage, whichever happens first. There will be centralized video rooms operated by conferences dedicated with direct contact to in-stadium replay booths of member institutions.
Horse-collar tackles are now illegal anywhere on the field, as compared to previously when they were only outlawed outside the tackle box.
More along the lines of professional sports, the coaches can now give those interviews that you know they just hate with the sideline reporters after the first and third quarters. At least those correspondents will appreciate the extra screen time.
There also are some new regs when it comes to other supplemental technologies, ie the number of tablets and their connectivity, on the sidelines, locker rooms and in the booth.
For the NCAA’s official statement, which is much less colorful and opinionated as this write-up, here’s the link:
https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/4/19/media-center-technology-rules-approved-in-football.aspx