Tag: NCAA oversight committee

Divisions in college football look like a thing of the past

The NCAA oversight committee has proposed removing divisional requirements for conferences with 12 teams or more.

Who knew that when the Big 12 only added TCU and West Virginia more than a decade ago that they’re non-divisional format would become the way of the future in college football?

The Big 12 was on to something.

Meeting this week to discuss various issues, including NIL, the NCAA oversight committee recommended the removal of the divisional format required for conferences with 12 or more teams. The provision would allow conferences to pit their top two teams from the regular season against each other in the conference championship game. It would help conferences avoid what went down in the 2021 season in the Big 10.

Because of the divisional format, the Big 10 championship game featured No. 3 Michigan and No. 12 Iowa. While Iowa was a deserving team, winning the Big 10 West, it left No. 7 Ohio State home to watch. While it could have hurt the Big 10’s chances of getting someone into the playoff if the two-loss Buckeyes had given Michigan a second loss, in other years, having Michigan and Ohio State play twice could provide an avenue where both teams make the College Football Playoff. Similar to what we saw in the SEC last season.

One-loss Alabama went into the SEC championship game and handed No. 1 Georgia its first loss of the season. The two highly-ranked teams were sitting there with one loss, and both were admitted into the College Football Playoff. Though it was played in a divisional format, removing divisions could allow a team to redeem a loss earlier in the season from a divisional foe.

Had Ohio State had just the one loss to Michigan and was able to redeem the loss in the Big 10 title game, there could have been a situation where both teams made the College Football Playoff.

Removing championship game guardrails is considered noncontroversial and will likely be rubber stamped, giving conferences additional flexibility in approving new ways to crown a champion. Most notably, the change would allow conferences to eliminate divisions, an idea that has grown in popularity in recent years. – Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports

The Big 12 hasn’t had divisions since the last wave of realignment that watched Texas A&M, Missouri, Colorado, and Nebraska walk. It had its issues when there wasn’t a championship game, like the season when TCU and Baylor finished tied atop the conference and the Big 12 crowned co-champions. It kept both teams out of the College Football Playoff.

Since reinstating the conference title game, though, the Big 12 has been a fun race through the conference season. The race for the Big 12 title game has gone down to the final week of the season, creating more intrigue for the league.

The Big 12 looks to be heading to a 14-team league in 2023 before Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC. Allowing the conferences to remain division-less makes a lot of sense for a conference that will have to figure out scheduling with a team in Orlando, Fla. and one in Provo, Utah.

When the Sooners and Longhorns move to the SEC, creating a 16-team conference, removing the divisional format could create some exciting scheduling options and will make the race for the title game even more intriguing.

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Report: NCAA exploring expanding recruiting classes limit beyond 25 scholarships

NCAA Oversight Committee is close to allowing a waiver that would allow teams to replace a scholarship player that leaves through the transfer portal.

The game of college football and the landscape is changing on a day-to-day basis. With the growth of the transfer portal, it was needing to be addressed sooner or later. According to reports, the NCAA is looking into expanding the scholarship limit.

As it currently sits, each school has a limit of 25 scholarships that can be offered a football scholarship. Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated has recently reported that the NCAA Divison I Oversight Committee could be close to allowing a waiver to replace any player that leaves through transfers.

This is something that LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has pushed for. He joined Off The Bench with T-Bob Hebert and Jacob Hester back in May. Orgeron discussed how the transfer portal calls for changes to scholarships limits.

1,600 players in the transfer portal is way too much. I don’t know if that’s healthy to get that many players transferring, but that’s the world we are living in. The problem is that when a player leaves, you can’t replace him with an initial (counter). Right now, we only have one initial left. We lose a player, especially at a position like quarterback, then what do you do? Where do you use that scholarship strategically? We know we have needs, but I have to find out with our football team how to use that scholarship the right way. – Orgeon on scholarship limits

“We also have to understand how to support an environment that provides more flexibility, permits legitimate transfers, while holding to account those who tamper and want to turn college rosters into their personal recruiting grounds,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated at conference media day.

NCAA oversight panel approves new overtime rules and more

The NCAA provided a list of new rule changes for the upcoming season.

Last season Oklahoma Sooners fans watched the team knock off the Texas Longhorns in a four-overtime thriller at the Cotton Bowl. Going into the 2021 season, those types of games might be a thing of the past with the latest announcement from the NCAA.

On Thursday the NCAA put out a release on a few rules changes, including the overtime rules. Moving forward teams must attempt to go for two after every touchdown starting in the second overtime period. Previously that policy started in the third overtime. This should help end the game quicker.

Teams will be required to run a 2-point conversion play after a touchdown when a game reaches a second overtime period. Previously, a 2-point attempt was required after the third overtime period.

Also, if the game reaches a third overtime, teams will run alternating 2-point plays, instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. This is a change from the previous rule, which started to use 2-point plays in the fifth overtime period

These rules could have prevented the four-overtime game, but if the clock operator was paying attention the game might not have reached overtime in the first place.

Other rules changes will include increasing the team area on the sideline. Previously it was between the 25-yard lines. The new rules will expand them to the 20-yard lines giving them 10 more yards of room. The unsportsmanlike penalty will now involve video board and lighting system operators.

The other topic that seems to be routinely discussed is faking injuries.

The panel supported the Football Rules Committee proposal to provide a framework to allow a school or conference to request a postgame video review about questionable actions through the NCAA secretary-rules editor/national coordinator of officials.