With Week Zero of the college football season set to kick off on Saturday, now is the perfect time to reflect on some offseason changes. The entire college football landscape will look different, as conference realignments have taken the country by storm over the last few months.
Amid all the buzz about new-look conferences, some significant rule changes have been overlooked that will make college football look different in 2024. Here are three rule changes you might have missed this offseason.
Make sure you know the rules...
— National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) August 22, 2024
CFO and NFF team up to highlight the changes designed to improve the game in 2024, including the role of technology during the game.https://t.co/BGzjUXuzbO
1. Coach-to-Player Communications
In 2024, coach-to-player communication through a headset will be permitted under specific guidelines. Only one player on the field will be allowed to wear a headset, identified by a green dot on the back of their helmet. The coach can communicate with this player until the play clock reaches 15 seconds, at which point the headset will be shut off until the next play. This will affect the way plays are called, and will leave the game looking a little different this season.
2. Two-Minute Timeout
The National Football League (NFL) has had the "two-minute warning" since 1942, and in 2024, college football will finally incorporate this stoppage into its games. While we're all familiar with how the rule works, this addition will definitely impact the game. College coaches will need to adjust their timeout strategies this season. There will be a one-minute media timeout in the second and fourth quarters of all college football games.
3. Horse-Collar Tackle
Currently, a horse-collar tackle within the tackle box is not considered a foul, but that will change in 2024 for player safety. The play will now result in a 15-yard penalty, which could impact games early in the season. With a growing emphasis on player safety, this rule change seemed inevitable, but it will certainly look different this year. It will be interesting to see how officials enforce this new rule throughout the season, as it promises to be an intriguing adjustment.
One thing worth noting regarding rule changes is the kickoff play. While there has been a lot of discussion recently about the NFL altering its kickoff rules, college football has not yet made the move. The plan is to observe how the changes play out in the NFL this year and potentially implement similar changes next season.