Rules Of Play

This is the first of a two-part series detailing the more significant NCAA football rule changes for 2008.

The NCAA always likes to tinker with its college football rule book during the offseason and this year was no different.

Granted…as any sport evolves, a review of the rules is not necessarily a bad thing.  Just so long as ‘the powers that be’ don’t screw things up.

Many remember back in 2006 when, in an attempt to speed up the game, the NCAA instituted a rule that had officials start the clock at every change of possession.  This one change led to 14-16 fewer plays per game, shortened games by an average of 14 minutes (3:21 to 3:07), and caused scoring to dip by five points per game.

As these declines were much more significant than expected — and after fans and coaches screamed (rightfully so) — the rule was repealed before the 2007 season.

This year, the areas of focus seem to center around player safety and making the game more ‘NFL-like.’  Here’s a list of some of the more significant changes:

Rule Change #1:  A 40-second play clock will replace the 25-second clock in most instances, and will start when the previous play is whistled down.  Some exceptions to this rule will be in the last two minutes of each half, at change of possession, and after timeouts.  Those situations will still use the 25-second clock.

Our Take:  If the NCAA wants to speed up games, this is a good way to do it (as the NFL has already found out).  The ‘Ole Ball Coach’ over in Columbia thinks this will help “the teams that run the no-huddle.”

Rule Change #2:  The replay official may now:  a) review any play that leads directly to a fumble; b) review a field goal attempt that is above or below the cross bar and below the top of the uprights; and c) correct any significant game clock error.

Our Take:  We may be asking for trouble here given the track record of some replay officials.  But now all aspects of a play involving a fumble may be reviewable, whether or not the field officials rule the runner down by contact.  Again, this is in line with the NFL rule, and makes the entire play reviewable.

Rule Change #3:  ‘Horse-collar tackles‘ are now considered personal fouls and will garner a 15-yard penalty.

Our Take:  This is long overdue.  In the NFL, this is known as the ‘Roy Williams Rule‘ after the Cowboys safety broke the ankles of two players using this type of takedown.

And you may remember in 2006, a horse-collar tackle on Darren McFadden slowed him some during the last few games, including the Capital One Bowl game against Wisconsin.

Rule Change #4:  Coaches who win their ‘coaches challenge’ will keep their right to challenge one additional play.

Our Take:  This doesn’t exactly help to speed up the game.  But it does allow coaches to be rewarded for good challenges, as well as encouraging them to use their challenge wisely.

Rule Change #5:  If a kickoff goes out of bounds, the receiving team may:  a) elect to rekick from the 25-yard line; b) take the ball at the spot; or c) take the ball at their own 40-yard line.

Our Take:  This was a leftover from the 2007 rule changes.  Last season, kickoffs were moved back five yards to the 30-yard line.  But the penalty for kicking out of bounds was not altered by five yards.  This corrects that oversight.

We’ll discuss a few more rule changes in a post later this week.  Until then, what are your thoughts about these updates?