New Rules Take Effect With 2020-21 College Football Season

 

TCU's Gary Patterson  visits with game officials.

Here are some changes and additions to college football rules that take effect during the 2020-21 season:

Certain ejected players allowed on sidelines: Players who are charged with targeting and ejected from the game can remain on the sidelines, instead of being forced to go to the locker room. Players ejected for targeting in the second half of a game can remain on the sideline through the end of the game and participate in pre-game and warm-up activities at the next game. However, they will be suspended from playing through the first half, during which they can remain on the sideline and interact with teammates.

New penalties requiring ejection: Players charged with fighting, two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls or flagrant personal fouls are guilty of fouls requiring ejection. These players can not stay on the sideline after ejection. They must “remain out of view of the field of play under team supervision.”

New pre-game warmup requirements: All players’ jersey numbers must be visible during pre-game warmups. An assistant coach or the head coach must be on the field during warmups before team captains are escorted to the field for the coin toss. This could drastically change the game-day routines for kickers and punters. They will be required to be supervised by an assistant coach. If a player’s jersey number is not visible or an assistant coach is not guiding their warmup, the player must leave the playing field.

Relaxing the defensive substitution rule: Defenses will be allowed to have 12 or more men on the field “to anticipate the offensive formation,” but must have 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped.

Protection for long snappers: Defenders are not allowed to line up within the body frame of a long snapper on a punt or field goal attempt when within one yard of the line of scrimmage. Defensive players may not initiate contact with the longer snapper until one second has passed after the snap.

Limiting duplicate numbers: No more than two team members may be assigned the same jersey number. There previously was not a limit to duplicate numbers. Such a violation will be for unsportsmanlike conduct against the head coach. Players will be required to immediately change jersey numbers.

Penalty carry-overs: All penalties at the end of a half will have the option to be carried to the ensuing kickoff and to the succeeding spot in overtime.

Extended jurisdiction for officials: Game officials will now oversee all action on the playing surface 90 minutes before kickoff. Officials previously were in charge starting at 60 minutes before the kickoff. At least three officials will be on the field 90 minutes before kickoff. Also, all officials must be on the field 40 minutes before kickoff.

Game Clock: If time on the game clock expires at the end of a half, but replay shows there is time remaining on the clock, there must be at least three seconds remaining on the clock for a play to be run if the clock is running upon the referee’s whistle.

If the clock is running and it is determined two seconds or less remain on the running clock, the half is over. If the clock is stopped, however, and more time is added to the clock after a run out of bounds or an incomplete pass, a play with two seconds or less remaining after replay review will be allowed to be conducted.

Replay reviews shortened: Instant replay officials are expected to conduct and complete their reviews in two minutes or less. There is one caveat: “if the review has end-of-game impact or has multiple aspects as a part of the review, it should be completed efficiently but will have no stated time limit.”

New number allowed on jerseys: Players will be allowed to wear “0” as their jersey number starting this season. The number was previously illegal. Players will not be allowed to wear double-digit numbers with zero proceeding the second number (example: 01 or 00).

Uniform violations: Two players wearing the same jersey number on the field at the same time still is illegal, and so are vests or altered jerseys (velcro, clasps, fasteners). Violation of these rules will result in a 15-yard penalty after the kickoff of each half and a loss of a timeout in each quarter an illegal jersey is worn by a player.