The NCAA football community long expected some rule changes ahead of the 2024 season, but Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported a trio of confirmed tweaks on Friday.
Starting this coming season, college teams will have access to in-game footage through tablets on the sidelines and during halftime. Coaches will also be able to communicate directly with players through one-way in-helmet communication systems.
Both practices are used at the NFL level, and both were tested this past bowl season as teams anticipated their immediate approval. The ACC approved both changes earlier this month as the conference awaited the national verdict.
A third change was added in the wave of 2024 revisions, however: college football will add a two-minute warning. The clock will automatically stop for a timeout with two minutes left before halftime and before the end of the game, another common NFL practice.
After meetings this week, college leaders are expected to finalize on Friday recommendations to adopt the long-expected player-to-coach helmet comms system; use of tablets on sideline/halftime; and a 2-minute warning, sources tell @YahooSports.https://t.co/ZRTHFjHZ7f
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 1, 2024
Within an hour-and-a-half of Dellenger’s report, the NCAA confirmed all three changes.
NCAA confirmation pic.twitter.com/kFnvaCeVYy
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 1, 2024
The NCAA statement adds that any rule changes still need to be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The panel will meet on April 18.