NCAA Committee Officially Proposes Significant Football Rules Changes

The NCAA football rules committee officially proposed three changes to timing in the sport, which it hopes will improve the flow of games and contribute to player safety thanks to a reduction in total plays in a game, starting this fall.

The most significant proposal would have the game clock run after first downs are gained, except during the final two minutes of each half. Current NCAA football rules call for the clock to stop after a first down.

Among the proponents of this change is Georgia coach Kirby Smart, co-chair of the rules committee.

“This rule change is a small step intended to reduce the overall game time and will give us some time to review the impact of the change,” he said in the NCAA’s release.

NCAA secretary-rules editor and national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said that the committee did not want to change the rule for the final two minutes of halves, which is the case in the NFL, citing the excitement it can help add to the end of games.

“Those last two minutes are critical,” Shaw said, per the Associated Press. “By stopping the clock it gives teams and opportunity to make a comeback. Everybody on the committee was resolute: we’re not going directly to the NFL rule.”

In addition, the committee has proposed two less impactful changes: one preventing teams from calling consecutive timeouts, and another that would have penalties caused at the end of the first and third quarter be carried over to start the following quarters, rather than force an untimed down.

All three of these proposals were first reported by Sports Illustrated‘s Ross Dellenger last month, along with a fourth that called for the game clock to run after an incomplete pass once the ball is spotted for play. According to the AP, the committee “gave no serious consideration” to that fourth proposal.

In addition to the three timing rules proposals, the committee approved use of instant replay in games without a replay official, allowing the referee to “use available video to make decisions on reviewable plays after a coach challenge,” per the NCAA. This rule will mostly impact the Division II and III levels. 

The committee also called for the establishment of guidelines for team warmups prior to the start of the second half, and a ban on drones flying over the field and team areas while teams are on the field.

The NCAA playing rules oversight panel will now decide whether to approve the rules for the 2023 season on April 20.