(Photo credit: AJ Houk)
Transfer portal “free agency”, huge NIL payouts, especially to the biggest stars– College football is becoming more and more like the NFL it seems everyday. The transformation continues as this season the college game implements more NFL like rules: helmet communication and implementation of the NFL’s two minute warning rule at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters, will be the most noticed of the changes.
Last season the biggest change was the clock continuing to run after first downs (except inside the final two minutes). That rule change also essentially mirrored what the NFL was already doing. For 2024 the NFL staple “two minute warning” will now factor into Marcus Freeman’s game management strategy. The breaks will last for two minutes. Enough time to make a sandwich or grab a beer.
In-helmet communication has been around for years in the NFL, but now just in time to take advantage of the MIke Denbrock-Riley Leonard combination at the head of the Irish offense, all FBS games will use helmet communication. Communication will cut-off 15 seconds before the expiration of the play clock, so there may still be some time for old school signaling from the sideline. Usage of the helmet communication is not mandatory, but is expected to be widely adapted. The rule was implemented as least partially in response to the Michigan sign stealing scandal. ND experimented with the helmet communication during bowl preparations last December.
Teams will also now be allowed to use up to 18 computer tablets both on the sidelines and in the coaches’ box, to review in-game video tape.
Horse collar tackles have been illegal since 2008, beginning this season, Howard Cross, and Rylie Mills will need to be extra careful to avoid them. Beginning this season, if the horse collar occurs inside “the tackle box” it will be penalized as a 15 yard personal foul.
Other rules changes include allowing conferences set up their own replay review system. It is hoped that some experimentation in this area will lead to more efficient reviews, thus speeding up the pace of play and shortening games.
One final rule change seems to make the traditional head coach TV interview at halftime a thing of the past. But don’t expect to hear less from Marcus Freeman during games this year because coaches will now conduct TV interviews at the end of the first and third quarters.