TLDR:
- NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed optional technology rules for college football, including helmet communication and a two-minute warning.
- Proposed changes aim to simplify timing rules, improve player-coach communication, and enhance in-game technology use.
Significant changes could be coming to college football in 2024 as the NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed optional technology rules for the sport. The key elements of these proposed changes include:
Helmet Communication: In matchups involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams, schools would have the option to use coach-to-player helmet communications through a player’s helmet with a green dot. Communication would be turned off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped.
Two-Minute Timeout: The addition of an automatic timeout when the clock reaches two minutes in the second and fourth quarters, similar to the NFL’s “two-minute warning,” aims to simplify end-of-half and end-of-game timing rules as well as help broadcast partners avoid consecutive media timeouts.
Tablets and Wearable Technology: Teams could use tablets to view in-game video and coaches’ camera angles, with access to 18 active devices per team. Wearable technology like fitness watches may also be allowed for players during games.
Uniform Enforcement: The committee expressed concerns about player uniforms, specifically pants, and proposed a stronger enforcement structure for clear violations, including player removal for correction of illegal equipment violations.
The proposed changes aim to enhance player-coach communication, simplify timing rules, improve in-game technology use, and address uniform violations. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will discuss and potentially approve these recommendations on April 18, 2024.
