Get to know the 6 new college football rules ahead of the 2024 season
By Sam Fariss
![Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to the referees. Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to the referees.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1600,h_900,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/245/01j35nmzgg4c9dwzcftq.jpg)
College football is less than 50 days away and fans are already scheduling out which games they're going to watch on which devices over which days of which weekends.
There are not only going to be games on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, but there are also going to be a few rule changes for fans to get used to.
Before you memorize your favorite team's roster and 2024 schedule, make yourself familiar with these six new rules in college football:
1. 2-minute warnings
Taken straight from the NFL rulebook, college football is implementing a two-minute warning.
The official timeout will come at the two-minute mark at the end of each half, or at the end of the second and fourth quarters.
After the break, the clock will stop following a first down and a ten-second runoff can be imposed following pre-snap penalties while the clock is running.
2. In-helmet communications
Coaches will be able to communicate with one player on the field for a specific amount of time, until 15 seconds are remaining on the play clock or until the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first.
The player with in-helmet communications will be signified by a green dot on the back of the player's helmet.
The NCAA used some of the bowl games at the end of the 2023 season as trial runs for the in-helmet communication systems and it was a resounding success.
3. Tablets for in-game video review
One of the more visible changes to football will be 18 tablets on each sideline.
Coaches and staff will be able to use handheld tablets to review in-game video. They will not be able to access any video from practices or previous games.
The tablets can also not access any analytical information or data pertaining to the team itself not the opponent.
4. Horse collar tackles in the tackle box will be a 15-yard personal foul
Yes, horse collar tackles have been penalized for a long time.
However, the NCAA is implementing a specificity to the penalty.
If an offensive player within the tackle box is taken down by a horse collar tackle, it will now be a personal foul and will result in a 15-yard penalty.
5. Conference wide video review system
Each conference can utilize its own video-replay system to review plays and assist the officials in reversing (or confirming) a call.
In other words, you may not have to see any more referees peeping into those teeny tiny replay monitors.
6. Head coach interviews after 1st and 3rd quarters
Get ready to see more and hear more of your favorite coaches... as well as your least favorite.
Broadcast teams and on-field reporters will get the opportunity to speak with head coaches between the first and third quarters, instead of just before and after the halves.
Unlike college basketball, players will still not be available for interviews between quarters.
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