College football is a month away and fans are starting to line up their schedules to watch their favorite team each weekend of the college football season.
With a new football season and new teams in new conferences, there will also be new rules for fans to learn about. The NCAA is implementing six new rules coming to college football this season and fans should start learning about them now.
Let's take a look at each new rule that each team will implement this season.
2-minute warnings
The 2-minute warning is a rule that has been in the NFL and it will now make it debut in college football this season.
There will be an official time-out that will happen at the 2-minute mark at the end of each half or at the end of the second and fourth quarters.
After the 2-minute warning break, the clock the will stop after each first down within 2 minutes and any pre-snap penalties will result in a 10-second runoff while the clock is running.
In-helmet communications
Another NFL rule will be implemented for college football with in-helmet communications on the field.
The in-helmet communications will be in the helmet of one player on the field and will allow coaches to communicate with that player for up to 15 seconds left on the play clock or until the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
The player with "the mic" will have a green dot on the back of their helmet indicating they have the communications. This new rule was tested during some of the 2023 bowl games and the NCAA found it incredibly successful.
Tablets for in-game video review
The NCAA will now provide 18 tablets for each team on each sideline which is the first time teams are allowed to have any sort of video tablet in college football.
Coaches and staff will be able to use the tablets to check in-game footage to help coach players on what they did right or what they did wrong. However, they will not be able to look at any practice footage or footage from previous games.
The tablet will be able to access certain analytical information about the team itself but nothing about their opponent.
Horse collar tackles in the tackle box will result in a 15-yard penalty
Horse collar tackles have always been a penalty in college football, but now there is little more clarity on what will result in the flag being thrown.
If an offensive player is within the tackle box and is taken down using a horse collar tackle then the penalty will result in a 15-yard penalty and will be considered a personal foul.
Conference-wide video review system
College football has always had a video review system, but each conference will have its own video review system that can assist referees in conforming or overturning a call on the field.
Basically, you may not have to watch the referee run down to the opposite end of the field to look at a tiny black screen known as the replay monitor.
Head coach interviews after 1st and 3rd quarters
In college football, head coaches have always been interviewed before halftime and after halftime but that is about the change.
Broadcast teams will now have the opportunity to interview head coaches at the end of the first and third quarters. Now you will get to hear more from your favorite and not-so-favorite coaches, however, players will still be unavailable to speak to during the games.