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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: Birddog on August 13, 2025, 02:26:29 PM

Title: SKF new for 2025
Post by: Birddog on August 13, 2025, 02:26:29 PM
I feel confident I have this right but just read something interesting.  https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/8/13/important-rule-changes-for-the-2025-college-football-season.aspx (https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/8/13/important-rule-changes-for-the-2025-college-football-season.aspx)

The National Football Foundation just today put out an article on new rules for 2025 and it says "
Quote
Currently, if the offense is in a scrimmage kick formation at the snap......if the snapper is on the end of the line and is an eligible receiver, he loses the protections outlined above on a scrimmage kick play"
. The actual rule wording is different than what is in this article. 

Did the writer or editor quote this rule incorrectly?  About the snapper being on the end of the line "and eligible receiver".  That makes it so we and the defense need to recognize what number the snapper is if he is on the end.
Title: Re: SKF new for 2025
Post by: ElvisLives on August 13, 2025, 03:40:19 PM
I feel confident I have this right but just read something interesting.  https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/8/13/important-rule-changes-for-the-2025-college-football-season.aspx (https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/8/13/important-rule-changes-for-the-2025-college-football-season.aspx)

The National Football Foundation just today put out an article on new rules for 2025 and it says ". The actual rule wording is different than what is in this article. 

Did the writer or editor quote this rule incorrectly?  About the snapper being on the end of the line "and eligible receiver".  That makes it so we and the defense need to recognize what number the snapper is if he is on the end.

No, but then we wouldn’t expect media folks to worry about accuracy.
Eligibility has nothing to do with either type of snapper protection (or lack thereof). If the snapper, wearing ANY number, is on the end of the line, Team B MAY have a player within 1 yard of the NZ aligned within the frame of the snapper, and the snapper MAY be contacted before 1 second has elapsed. Those protections have nothing to do with eligibility. Both are protections for a snapper who has his head down, and is a bit defenseless after he releases the ball. But, to allow an eligible receiver to have those protections would allow him to get off the off line unchallenged. So, the rules were changed to remove those prohibitions when the snapper is on the end of the line (regardless of number and eligibility). No, we don’t need to be aware of the snapper’s number, for those rules. But, we DO need to be aware of his number for formation and mandatory team numbering rules.
Title: Re: SKF new for 2025
Post by: Birddog on August 13, 2025, 03:59:45 PM
Thanks Robert, I knew it had to be an editorial snafu.  Details do matter, for us anyway....