With the college football season about to start my question is "What are the rule changes?". Most of the years past there have been some rules changes, but I have not heard of any so far this year. And if no rule changes have there been any areas where the refs have to asked to give "increased emphasis"? Thanks
Any new rules
- Thread starter Metal Mike
- Start date
Overtime:
In an overreaction to one nationally televised game, the NCAA has changed the overtime procedure, or extra periods as is the official name for the NCAA tie breaker procedure. Nothing will change for the first 4 OT. The offense will still get the ball at the 25 and will still have to go for 2 starting in the 3rd OT. However, starting in the 5th extra period, the procedure will change. Instead of getting the ball at the 25, the offense will get the ball at the 3 and will one play as a try. For those unfamiliar, a try is the technical term for an extra point. So if a game is still tied after four extra periods, the teams will trade 2 point conversions until a winner is determined. There are a few implications of this being a try.
Two Man Wedge
In a further effort to try make kickoffs safer, the rule about wedge blocks has been expanded. Previously it was only a foul if 3 or more players came together. Starting this year, that has been reduced to 2 players. If two or more players come together within 2 yards (basically able to touch each other) and move forward in an attempt to block as a unit on a free kick, it will be a foul. All parts of the rule must be in place to have a foul: two or more players coming together, moving forward, attempting to block, and doing so as one unit. If one of those elements is not met, it is not a foul. Some important notes:
Nothing has changed regarding the on-field rules for targeting or it's penalty. However, the replay review rules surrounding the foul have been altered. Letting a call of Targeting stand will no longer be an option for replay officials. If the replay official cannot confirm all aspects of the foul, it will be overturned. This includes having a high risk indicator (such as a launch, dipping the head to attack, or crouch and thrust), the location of the contact on the opponent, the location of contact by the player making the hit, and the defenseless status of the opponent. Nothing has changed with regard to enforcement of penalties for other fouls committed in conjunction with the possible targeting. If a player commits roughing the passer with targeting, the RPS will still be applied even if the targeting aspect cannot be confirmed. For games that do not have instant replay but do have halftime review for targeting, this rule will not apply. They will still be able to let a call of targeting stand. The film at the levels not using instant replay is not always good enough quality to confirm targeting and the rule makers didn’t want fouls being overturned because of low quality film.
Targeting is the only rule that this change will affect. Other rulings such as catch/no catch, down/fumble, score/no score will still be allowed to stand if there is not indisputable video evidence to confirm or overturn the call on the field.
Targeting, Seasonal Progressive Penalty
In an effort to punish repeat offenders, the NCAA has introduced an additional penalty for players who commit more than 2 targeting fouls in a single season. Upon a players 3rd (or subsequent) targeting foul within one season, the player will receive an additional 1 game suspension for the team's next game. This is similar to a soccer player accumulating yellow cards throughout a season or tournament. Like disqualifications for targeting in the second half of games, this suspension can carryover between seasons. So if a player commits his 3rd targeting foul of the season in a team's last game, his suspension will be served in the first game of the next season.
Blocking Below the Waist
Further supporting my personal theory that the rules committee has a contract to alter the low blocking rules as often as possible, they have slightly tweaked this rule again this year. The defense may no longer block low from the side. Luckily this was the only change to this rule. For a full rundown on the low blocking rules, see this thread. For visual learners and/or those who don't care to read long, tedious posts about rules, here is the updated version of LegacyZebra's Low Block Legality Flow ChartTM.
Blindside Blocks
In what will be the most controversial rule of the year, the NCAA has defined and outlawed blind side blocks. A blind side block is now defined as "an openfield block against an opponent that is initiated from outside the opponent's field of vision, or otherwise in such a manner that the opponent cannot reasonably defend himself against the block." If a player delivers a blind side block by attacking an opponent with forcible contact it is a personal foul.
Before anybody launches into a "destroying football"/"might as well play two touch" tirade, some notes about what will and will not constitute a foul under this rule:
In an overreaction to one nationally televised game, the NCAA has changed the overtime procedure, or extra periods as is the official name for the NCAA tie breaker procedure. Nothing will change for the first 4 OT. The offense will still get the ball at the 25 and will still have to go for 2 starting in the 3rd OT. However, starting in the 5th extra period, the procedure will change. Instead of getting the ball at the 25, the offense will get the ball at the 3 and will one play as a try. For those unfamiliar, a try is the technical term for an extra point. So if a game is still tied after four extra periods, the teams will trade 2 point conversions until a winner is determined. There are a few implications of this being a try.
- The fourth down fumble rule is in effect. If a player fumbles the ball prior to change in team possession, only the fumbler (or the defense) may recover the ball.
- Penalties for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct can carry over to the next possession. Scenario 1: Team A goes first in 5OT. They convert their try and B99 commits a foul for roughing the passer. That 15 yard penalty will be applied to Team B's possession and they will snap their try from the 18. Scenario 2: Team A goes first in 5 OT and converts their try. After the play A1 taunts an opponent. Ruling: The UNS on A1 will carryover and Team B will have their try from the 1.5.
- Because it is a try and not a "normal" scrimmage down, fouls that would normally carry an automatic 1st down will only be the yardage penalty plus replay the down. Scenario: Team A goes first in 5OT. A1's pass is incomplete, but B99 commits a foul for roughing the passer. Ruling: Team A will replay their try from the 1.5. It will not be 1st and goal.
- This will change one bit of CFB trivia: impossible scores. Because safeties on tries are worth one point, this will open up the possibility of 1 point safeties without a TD. Combining that with the fact that touchdowns on tries are worth 2 points, this means 7-1 is now the only impossible score in CFB.
Two Man Wedge
In a further effort to try make kickoffs safer, the rule about wedge blocks has been expanded. Previously it was only a foul if 3 or more players came together. Starting this year, that has been reduced to 2 players. If two or more players come together within 2 yards (basically able to touch each other) and move forward in an attempt to block as a unit on a free kick, it will be a foul. All parts of the rule must be in place to have a foul: two or more players coming together, moving forward, attempting to block, and doing so as one unit. If one of those elements is not met, it is not a foul. Some important notes:
- Contact with an opponent is not necessary for this to be a foul. If a wedge is formed and they attempt to block an opponent that is enough for a foul.
- Simply being close to each other is not a foul. They must come together in an attempt to block as a unit. If two teammates are within 2 yards of each other but are setting up to block different opponents or facing different directions, it is not a foul.
- If one player is blocking an opponent and a teammate comes to double team him, that is not a foul because they did not set up to block as a unit.
- If two players come together to block, but simply hold their ground and absorb the impact of a kicking team player, it is not a foul because they were not moving forward.
- Philosophically, these fouls will generally not be called on front line players unless they are egregious because they are not as high energy collisions as downfield blocks. Most fouls for wedges will be called for the group of blockers directly in front of the returner.
- By rule, there is no foul for a wedge if the play results in a touchback, free kick out of bounds, or a fair catch is made.
- By rule, there is no foul if the wedge is from an obvious onside kick formation.
- This foul has a specific enforcement that somewhat acts like basic 3-and-1 enforcement, but it isn't true 3 & 1. If the foul is behind the dead ball spot, the penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. If it is beyond, it is enforced from the dead ball spot. Technically if it was pure 3 & 1, the penalty would be enforcement from the previous spot if it happened before the kick was caught or recovered. However the penalty for a wedge is only enforced from the previous spot if the ball doesn't belong to the receiving team at the end of the down.
Nothing has changed regarding the on-field rules for targeting or it's penalty. However, the replay review rules surrounding the foul have been altered. Letting a call of Targeting stand will no longer be an option for replay officials. If the replay official cannot confirm all aspects of the foul, it will be overturned. This includes having a high risk indicator (such as a launch, dipping the head to attack, or crouch and thrust), the location of the contact on the opponent, the location of contact by the player making the hit, and the defenseless status of the opponent. Nothing has changed with regard to enforcement of penalties for other fouls committed in conjunction with the possible targeting. If a player commits roughing the passer with targeting, the RPS will still be applied even if the targeting aspect cannot be confirmed. For games that do not have instant replay but do have halftime review for targeting, this rule will not apply. They will still be able to let a call of targeting stand. The film at the levels not using instant replay is not always good enough quality to confirm targeting and the rule makers didn’t want fouls being overturned because of low quality film.
Targeting is the only rule that this change will affect. Other rulings such as catch/no catch, down/fumble, score/no score will still be allowed to stand if there is not indisputable video evidence to confirm or overturn the call on the field.
Targeting, Seasonal Progressive Penalty
In an effort to punish repeat offenders, the NCAA has introduced an additional penalty for players who commit more than 2 targeting fouls in a single season. Upon a players 3rd (or subsequent) targeting foul within one season, the player will receive an additional 1 game suspension for the team's next game. This is similar to a soccer player accumulating yellow cards throughout a season or tournament. Like disqualifications for targeting in the second half of games, this suspension can carryover between seasons. So if a player commits his 3rd targeting foul of the season in a team's last game, his suspension will be served in the first game of the next season.
Blocking Below the Waist
Further supporting my personal theory that the rules committee has a contract to alter the low blocking rules as often as possible, they have slightly tweaked this rule again this year. The defense may no longer block low from the side. Luckily this was the only change to this rule. For a full rundown on the low blocking rules, see this thread. For visual learners and/or those who don't care to read long, tedious posts about rules, here is the updated version of LegacyZebra's Low Block Legality Flow ChartTM.
Blindside Blocks
In what will be the most controversial rule of the year, the NCAA has defined and outlawed blind side blocks. A blind side block is now defined as "an openfield block against an opponent that is initiated from outside the opponent's field of vision, or otherwise in such a manner that the opponent cannot reasonably defend himself against the block." If a player delivers a blind side block by attacking an opponent with forcible contact it is a personal foul.
Before anybody launches into a "destroying football"/"might as well play two touch" tirade, some notes about what will and will not constitute a foul under this rule:
- This rule does not apply to a runner.
- This rule does not apply to receivers in the act of attempting to make a catch.
- To be a foul, it must be an open field block. If it's within normal line play, it is not a foul. Basically, this allows pass protecting linemen to clean the pocket as well as allows teams to keep those wham/trap/counter blocks in their running schemes.
- This does not give linemen a free pass. If a play breaks, such as a QB scrambling, and a lineman blindsides an opponent, it can still be a foul.
- Simply contacting an opponent who doesn't see you is not a foul. It must be forcible contact. What they're trying to eliminate is the big decleating blocks. So things like setting a pick or chipping an opponent are not covered by this rule.
- It's also important to note that the opponent simply "seeing it coming" is not enough to absolve a blocker of a foul. He must also be able to defend himself. So if a player happens to turn his head at the last second, it can still be a foul if he didn't have time to defend himself against the block. He doesn't have to actually do make an attempt to do so, he just has to have enough time that he could have.
- If the block is executed with extended hands or is a screen-type block, it is not a foul as these blocks are not considered attacking an opponent.
Increased emphasis on throwing a flag when a women gets mentioned by name but no pic is posted!!!
Last edited:
I am trying to figure out how any team winning by more than 3-1, and only giving up one point, is possible. Help me here.
Both teams somehow score one point safeties in 5OT. In 6OT, Team A scores a two point try to go up 3-1. On defense they then get a turnover and return it all the way for another 2 points to win 5-1.
this taken from a referee poster on Reddit u/LegacyZebra
this taken from a referee poster on Reddit u/LegacyZebra
another note...lol...in regards to 5-1 games
For this scenario, both teams would need to score a safety while on offense. Such as throwing an interception where the defender retreats back into his own end zone after intercepting the pass. That would give the offense one point and the defense would then get their try. If they did the same thing, it would go to the next OT tied 1-1.
For this scenario, both teams would need to score a safety while on offense. Such as throwing an interception where the defender retreats back into his own end zone after intercepting the pass. That would give the offense one point and the defense would then get their try. If they did the same thing, it would go to the next OT tied 1-1.
Last edited:
