The NCAA approved a set of rules changes on Thursday that will make college football similar to the professional game. Several rules will be added for the 2024 season, mainly a two-minute warning and the implementation of helmet communications. The NCAA announced the changes on Friday after a vote for adoption took place on Thursday.
NCAA Approved Communication Rules
Each school will have the ability to use coach-to-player communications through the helmet to one player on the field. The rules for helmet communication are nearly identical to the NFL rules. One player for each team, identified by a green sticker on the helmet, can be on the field with communication technology. Communication from coach to player will be cut off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
The NCAA Rules Committee also passed rules regarding the use of tablets on the sidelines. Teams now will have the ability to use tablets to view in-game video. The video will be of the broadcast feed and camera angles from the coach’s sideline and coach’s end zone.
From the NCAA release on Friday:
“Teams can have up to 18 active tablets for use in the coaching booth, sideline and locker room. Tablets cannot be connected to other devices to project larger additional images and cannot include analytics, data or data access capability or other communication access. All team personnel will be allowed to view the tablets during the game.”
Two-Minute Warning
Another rule change is the implementation of a two-minute warning, similar to the NFL. With two minutes remaining in the second and fourth quarters, there will be an automatic timeout. Last year, the NCAA approved a running clock on first downs, except in the final two minutes in the second and fourth quarters. This two-minute timeout rule will prevent consecutive TV timeouts from broadcasters.
The reason for the two-minute warning is related to the value of television airtime at that point in the game. Television networks run commercials as soon as the two-minute warning is called, with those slots being among the most lucrative in a broadcast. As we all know, it’s about money and college football is a big money business.
Other Rules Changes
On top of the communication and two-minute warning rules, the NCAA announced several other rules changes for the 2024 season. Horse collar tackles that occur within the tackle box will now result in a 15-yard personal foul. Additionally, head coaches will be allowed to be interviewed by the broadcast at the end of the first and third quarters.
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