NCAA establishes new timing rules
If you notice some changes at the next Utah State football game, you may want to look again – because the referees sure will be.
For the average college football fan, most of the changes the NCAA and the WAC are instituting this season won’t even be noticed, despite the fact that football games, instead of a whopping three-hour time block, will now only take around two hours and 57 minutes.
But a couple changes could make a difference to the fans.
Among a bevy of new policies instituted by the NCAA and the WAC this season, changes for when the clock starts and the addition of instant replay are being introduced to help college football run more smoothly.
Now, depending on a play, if an official makes an obvious mistake (because the fans have a much better view of the field than the officials do) there is a chance that it could be overturned. However, WAC officials have warned that instant replay is not a “cure-all” for college football. It is not in place to correct every mistake made by the officials on the field.
Instant replay is fairly new to the college football world, and fans cannot expect it to be exactly like it is in the NFL. For example, in the NFL, officials are allowed to review a fumble. In college football, a fumble is not reviewed if an official has ruled the ball down.
If an athlete is running down the field and is called out of bounds (even though it was obvious to everyone in the stands that they were well inside the line), that play cannot be reviewed. However, if an athlete is running down the field, steps out of bounds, but then scores, that play can be reviewed.
Confusing enough? It’s not too hard to understand when it gets broken down. The plays that can be reviewed are plays that have to do with a side line, a goal line or an end line (where the ball stops on the field). So if a pass is ruled complete or incomplete, officials can review the play and overturn the call.
Other changes being introduced to WAC football starting on Saturday deal with when the game clock is started. Utah State University Athletic Director Randy Spetman said the clock changes have come about because of pressure from TV stations that wanted more commercial time.
The biggest change that fans may notice is that now on a kickoff the clock is started when the “toe meets ball.” Previously, the clock was not started until the referee signaled that the receiving team had caught the ball.
Another change takes effect only when a team is awarded a first down. When this occurs, the clock is started after the ball has been spotted on the “ready” instead of the snap. This only occurs on first downs after a turnover.
There are several exceptions and other changes, but for most of these, even the most avid Aggie football fan won’t notice them.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu