2023 College Football Rule Changes Explained

BleedGopher

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Per Joe:

The National Football Foundation (NFF) in conjunction with College Football Officiating (CFO) released a joint statement on Thursday to bring more awareness to key rule changes for the 2023 college football season.

The CFO functions as the national professional organization for all football officials who work games at the collegiate level.

Per the statement, "The most significant 2023 football rules changes involve adjustments to the timing and clock rules. The rules committee made these changes to drive three strategic initiatives:

  1. Keep the game moving in terms of pace of play.
  2. Moderately reduce the number of plays per game.
  3. Ensure consistency in officiating mechanics managing the game clock."
These changes are made in an effort to be more consistent with the NCAA Rules Committee's mission of creating changes "that will enhance the sport, protect the image of the game, and enhance the student athlete's health and safety."Below are explanations from the NFF on the individual rule changes.

Stopping and Starting the Clock – First Downs (Rule 3-3-2-e-1)​

When Team A (the offense) gains a first down, the clock will no longer be stopped to award a first down except with less than two minutes remaining in the 2nd and 4th quarters. This change is effective immediately for DI and DII and will be implemented in 2024 for DIII.

Consecutive Charged Team Timeouts (Rule 3-3-4-a)​

Consecutive charged team timeouts will no longer be allowed by the same team in any individual dead ball period. Each team is entitled to three charged team timeouts during each half, with no more than one charged team timeout available per team, per individual dead ball period.


Extension of Periods (Rule 3-2-3-a)​

A period shall be extended for an untimed down in the 2nd or 4th quarter only if a penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul, if there are offsetting fouls, or an inadvertent whistle. The 1st and 3rd quarters will not be extended, and any penalty enforcement will be carried over to the following quarter.

Drone Policy (Rule 1-4-11-d)​

Drones are not allowed over the field or the team area when squad members are present within the playing enclosure. Outside the limit lines, game management (or conference policy) will govern drone activity. This governance includes all FAA, state, and local laws including campus policy where appropriate.


Halftime Intermission (Rule 3-2-1-c & 11-1-3)​

The field will be available to squad members for halftime warmup no later than three minutes prior to the second half kickoff. When any Squad Member enters the playing enclosure during the halftime intermission, a staff member from that team must be present on the field.

If kickers or other squad members come onto the playing enclosure before the field is available, their activities must be confined to the team area. All team personnel will be respectful of scheduled halftime activities, and all kicks must be into the practice kicking nets until the field is available.


When the field is available to players, the field will be divided into an “L-shaped” configuration with the thirty yard-lines forming the “L” in order to keep the teams separated.

Instant Replay without an Instant Replay Booth Official (New Rule 12-2-1-c)​

The optional use of instant replay in games that do not have an instant replay booth official is now permissible and must be in full compliance with Rule 12 (the replay rule) with the following exceptions:


The Referee will be the sole decision maker on any review and may include one additional crew member to consult on the review.

The equipment used in the review must be located outside the limit lines on the sideline or end zone and must be completely outside the team area. The referee and additional crew member must be provided a separate, secure location away from fans and sideline personnel, with a tent or similar type shelter structure.


Go Gophers!!
 

How about ditching TV timeouts to increase pace of play? That 3:30 on field timer is excruciating. Money ruins everything.
 

How about ditching TV timeouts to increase pace of play? That 3:30 on field timer is excruciating. Money ruins everything.
The only answer for the fans is commercial insets like in other sports, especially soccer.

You will never be able to get rid of the commercials, just manage them.

A "getting rid of" solution can only result in less games on TV...


FYI, I like all of these changes.
 

They should get rid of the "if your knee touches even though no one tackled you you're down" rule.
 

The halftime rule clarifications are interesting to me, were there any incidents recently? Seems like it's saying "Up until 3 minutes prior to the half, the scheduled activities have the field, but can go no later than 3 minutes left in the half"
 





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