NCAAF · 3 months ago

7 College Football Rule Changes You Need to Know for This Season

John Canady

Host · Writer

7) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rule Change
Moving forward, all forms of gun violence will be prohibited in college football. Any simulation of firing a weapon will be ruled as an automatic unsportsmanlike foul. In addition, if a player brandishes a weapon, it will be deemed an unsportsmanlike act.

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1) Fake Injury Crackdowns
In efforts to protect the integrity of the game we love, beginning in 2025, if a player presents an injury after the ball is spotted to start the next play, the team with the injured player will be charged with a timeout.

If the team charged with a timeout has already used all of their remaining timeouts, a five-yard delay-of-game penalty will be enforced in favor of the opposing team.

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2) Overtime Changes
Heading into 2025, overtime rules have been adjusted once again. Before this season, teams were allowed one timeout for each overtime period. Now, each team will be awarded one timeout for the first two overtime periods. If the game continues beyond that point, both teams will be granted only one timeout for the remainder of the game.
3) Video Reviews: Overturned vs. Upheld
Beginning this season, if an official reviews a play via video footage, officials will either announce the call is upheld or explain the reasoning behind the decision to change a play.

In seasons past, officials would either state the rule as "confirmed" or "upheld" if not overturned, with minimal reasoning. Now, the officials will be expected to explain their reasons for overturning.
4) Kick Return Rule Change
If a player holds his arms out making a "T," the play will be deemed dead, and the team will give up the right to make a return. Not only does this protect the players on both sides of the ball, but it also prevents fake fair catch signals from being interpreted.
5) Line of Scrimmage Rule Change
To limit the impact a defensive line can have in terms of stimulated action to manipulate an opposing team's offensive line, any defensive player within a yard of the line of scrimmage will be restricted from simulating any form of action to force the opposing offense to commit a penalty.

Offensively, the same rules will be applied to refrain from potentially forcing a defensive false start.
6) Illegal 12th Man Rule Change
If a team has more than 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped, a live-ball foul will be called, resulting in a five-yard penalty against the team at fault. If this penalty is enforced after the two-minute mark in either half, the opposing offense will be given the right to reset the game clock back to the time on the clock when the ball was snapped. The game clock will then restart on the following snap.
7) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rule Change
Moving forward, all forms of gun violence will be prohibited in college football. Any simulation of firing a weapon will be ruled as an automatic unsportsmanlike foul. In addition, if a player brandishes a weapon, it will be deemed an unsportsmanlike act.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1) Fake Injury Crackdowns
In efforts to protect the integrity of the game we love, beginning in 2025, if a player presents an injury after the ball is spotted to start the next play, the team with the injured player will be charged with a timeout.

If the team charged with a timeout has already used all of their remaining timeouts, a five-yard delay-of-game penalty will be enforced in favor of the opposing team.

Have all the intel you need? Free, actionable information is just one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

7 College Football Rule Changes You Need to Know for This Season

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