NCAA Adopts Clock Change to Improve Player Safety and Game Pace
In a bid to enhance player safety and increase the tempo of games, the NCAA has implemented a clock change for the upcoming college football season. This rule change, which has drawn attention during the offseason, will see the clock continue to run after a team makes a first down on an inbounds play, similar to the rules in the NFL. The clock will only stop during the last two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
The primary motive behind this alteration, according to national supervisor of officials Steve Shaw, is to reduce the number of plays and thereby minimize the potential for player injuries. The significance of limiting player exposures becomes even more crucial as more teams participate in the College Football Playoff. Starting from the 2024-25 season, the playoff will expand from four to twelve teams, with the possibility of further enlargement in the future.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee estimates that this new rule will result in a reduction of approximately seven to eight plays per game in the upcoming season. Over a 12-game season, this would translate to saving 96 potential injury exposures per team. For teams advancing to the playoff, there could be over 100 fewer exposures.
The application of the new rule will be universal across all NCAA levels, except for Division III, which will delay implementation until 2024.
While there have been concerns raised by coaches about the impact of fewer plays on the development opportunities for backup players, opinions on how it will actually influence games differ. Some coaches worry that reducing the total number of snaps might limit playing time for reserves. However, the number of snaps for backups is generally influenced by the game’s progression and the scoreline, with more chances available when the game is not closely contested.
Other changes aimed at improving the pace of play include prohibiting teams from calling consecutive timeouts during the same dead-ball period and eliminating untimed downs when a penalty occurs as time expires in the first and third quarters. Coaches hold varying opinions on the potential consequences of these alterations.
Overall, while there may be initial consternation about the new clock change rule, similar to adjustments made to blocking-below-the-waist rules in the previous year, it is expected to become normalized as fans get used to it. The goal of this change is to prioritize player safety and reduce injury risks, without significantly impacting the flow of the game. By the end of the season, the effects of the rule change may go unnoticed by most viewers but could lead to substantial benefits for player well-being.
