The National Football Foundation (NFF) have released the rule changes for the upcoming college football season.
With the 2020 college football season almost upon us, there seem to be new rule changes each and every season. The National Football Foundation (NFF) released the rule changes for the upcoming season.
Jersey Number Changes
The number “0” was added as legal jersey number. New Texas wide receiver Tarik Black will don that number in the upcoming season. Also no more than two players can wear the same number. In previous years there were no limits to the amount of duplicate jersey numbers.
Targeting
While there are new changes being made to the actual rule of targeting, there is a change in the punishment of the rule. If a player is confirmed to have targeted another player, they are disqualified. However, the player can remain in the team area instead of being escorted back to the locker room area.
Pregame Warmups/Officials Jurisdiction
In previous rules, officials jurisdiction didn’t begin on the field until 60 minutes prior to kickoff. That has now been extended to 90 minutes. Also any player on the field in that time must be accompanied by an assistant or head coach. Any player on the field must have their jersey on with numbers visible. If not, then the player must leave the field. This is an attempt to remove any unsportsmanlike conduct during the pregame festivities.
Defensive Linemen on Scrimmage Kick Plays
In an effort to further protect the snapper on kick plays, the NFF announced a rule that prevents defensive lineman from lining up within the frame of the snapper.
Any defensive player within one yard of the line of scrimmage must be aligned completely outside the frame of the body of the snapper at the snap.
Instant Replay / Clock Adjustment and Review Time
If an instant replay determines there should be time remaining at the end of a half, the clock will start when the referee signals. However, if the time remaining is less than three seconds, it will be the end of the half.
This change will not impact situations when the clock is stopped and will remain stopped until the snap such as incomplete passes and runners out of bounds.
The replay official will not exceed two minutes for review. Except for situations that would determine the winner at the end of a game according to the press release.
Other changes
- A second jersey meeting all requirements of the jersey rule worn concurrently is allowed.
- The penalty for a team not complying with the jersey rule (i.e., legal and contrasting numbers or a colored jersey in violation of the rule) will be a 15-yard penalty after the kickoff of each half and the loss of a timeout in each quarter that illegal jerseys are worn.
- Defensive Team Substitution Infractions will now be treated as a live ball foul.
- All fouls that have an option to carry over to the succeeding kickoff will also contain an option to carry over to the succeeding spot in extra periods.
Next are changes made for COVID-19 guidelines
