From the National Football Foundation and College Football Officiating in Irving, Texas, the guide to college football rule changes came out Wednesday.
It's not really fair to boo or bellow if you don't know the rules, though that doesn't stop many fans.
"Holding!? How did you miss that?"
"C'mon Zebra, he was mugging him all down the field. That's pass interference!"
The biggest change for 2025 involves faking injuries. Beginning this year an injury after the ball is spotted costs a team a timeout or a delay of game penalty.
" if a player presents as injured after the ball is spotted by officials, that team will be charged a Team Timeout or a delay penalty if all timeouts have been used. That player must remain out of the game for at least one down, even if that team is granted a team timeout and may not return to the game until receiving approval of professional medical personnel designated by their institution."
No more third-team nose guards trying for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar on the ninth play of a drive, swan-diving with a "cramp." If he does have a cramp, he'll just have to limp it off, or his headset-slamming ball coach will have to burn a timeout.
Timeouts are changing in overtime. Going forward teams get one in the first extra period, one in the second, and just one additional for the third and succeeding overtimes. Media timeouts are limited to the first two overtimes.
The objective is to shorten games, although if they really wanted to do that, they'd limit the classic network staple of commercial-kickoff-commercial, but hey, TV drives the bus.
Language is changing in announcing the results of replay reviews:
"If the video evidence confirms the on-field ruling or if there is no clear and obvious evidence to overturn the on-field ruling: "After further review, the ruling on the field is upheld."
"If the on-field ruling is overturned: "After further review, the ruling is [followed by a brief description of the video evidence]. Therefore, [followed by a brief description of the impact of the ruling]."
The Dan Lanning rule
Ever the strategist, Dan Lanning famously shaved seconds off the clock in the final minute of the 32-31 win over Ohio State at Autzen Stadium by deliberately taking a penalty for 12 men on the field.
Beginning in 2025, a coach who tries that will get a substitution penalty and the offense gets the option to reset the game clock.
Defensive players at the line of scrimmage can't make exaggerated movements to draw the offense offsides.
I mean…there’s no way Lanning did this on purpose. pic.twitter.com/x46YNchgZs
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) October 13, 2024
No shenanigans before the snap:
"No player shall use words or signals that disconcert opponents when they are preparing to put the ball in play. No player may call defensive signals that simulate the sound or cadence of, or otherwise interfere with, offensive starting signals. New for 2025, the terms "move" and "stem" are reserved for defensive cadence and may not be used by the offense. The offense may use a "clap" as a starting signal and this signal may not be used by the defense."
Tablets are allowed on the sidelines though they can't be projected onto a bigger screen. The in-helmet headsets for coach-to-player communication have expanded to the FCS.
Simulating a weapon, i.e. firing finger pistols or miming a shotgun blast, draws a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
There are other rule changes, but they look too complicated to explain. Best advice is wait for Joe Tessitore to elaborate on the telecast of Farmageddon, Iowa State versus Kansas State from Dublin, Ireland on August 23.
"I think about that call probably every day."
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2024
Jeremiah Smith breaks down the late offensive pass interference call against him ahead of Ohio State's rematch with Oregon ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VvLwIf8zSK