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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: bossman72 on February 26, 2026, 01:27:33 PM
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https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/2/26/media-center-changes-proposed-to-penalty-structure-for-targeting-in-di-football.aspx
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What is the rationale behind this one?
Offensive pass interference penalties would be 10 yards. Currently, the penalty for offensive pass interference is 15 yards.
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To bring in line with NFL
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I wonder if the OPI change is to maybe encourage officials to call it more often... if so, that's barking up the wrong tree. It's not called because it's not seen, not because officials pass on it and don't want to penalize the offense 15 yards.
IMO the rule is already inequitable, in that offense is always 15, while DPI depends on the spot... although they do get an automatic first down. I don't think it's right that a foul that nets the offense 3 yards (assuming the foul happened 3 yards downfield) should bail the offense out of a 3rd and 19 situation with an automatic first down. Make it 15 all the time, or do away with the auto 1st, and if it doesn't net the LTG, we keep progressing in that series.
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So with leg coverings from the shoes to the bottom of the pants ... will knee pads be scrapped?
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So with leg coverings from the shoes to the bottom of the pants ... will knee pads be scrapped?
Nobody worries about them, anyway, so who cares?
All I ask is that they write this leg coverings rule to say that there shall be no exposed skin below the bottom of the pant leg openings, not just that they need to wear leggings.
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No skin it is….
You can either wear high socks that come up to the bottom of your pants, or you could wear some sort of leg covering -- tights -- whatever you want to call them," Shaw said. "We're looking for a no-skin gap. And if we have a skin gap and the officials recognize it, then they're going to send the player out of the game. And they have to stay out at least for one play but get it fixed."
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No skin it is….
You can either wear high socks that come up to the bottom of your pants, or you could wear some sort of leg covering -- tights -- whatever you want to call them," Shaw said. "We're looking for a no-skin gap. And if we have a skin gap and the officials recognize it, then they're going to send the player out of the game. And they have to stay out at least for one play but get it fixed."
Good. Where/when did he say this?
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Waiting to see the player with tights only, no pants
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Waiting to see the player with tights only, no pants
I don’t think we’ll see that, but I DO think we’ll see some REALLY short pants with tights. Just take the responsibility off of us. But, for the good of the game, no exposed skin below the neck of the body and legs, or below the elbows of the arms.
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Good. Where/when did he say this?
Shaw was quoted in an article with ESPN.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48054911/targeting-penalties-slowly-declining-2020-ncaa-says
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Shaw was quoted in an article with ESPN.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48054911/targeting-penalties-slowly-declining-2020-ncaa-says
Thanks!
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What is the rationale behind this one?
Offensive pass interference penalties would be 10 yards. Currently, the penalty for offensive pass interference is 15 yards.
My only guess is "because NFL" like a lot of the rule changes.
I understand the NFL because 15 yards is an absolute drive killer. NCAA for the most part is too, but the offensive firepower and the ability to recover from that in NCAA is a lot greater than NFL. That's kind of why I liked keeping it at 15 to maintain offensive/defensive balance. Oh well.
I'm kind of pumped they're bringing back the fair catch free kick. No tee though.
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So, what is an “awarded” fair catch? Like, maybe where the ball belongs to Team B after a KCI penalty?
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Sorry to be nosey, guys, but I'm thrilled to see the NCAA to consider allowing a free kick following a fair catch. More often than not we (NFHS) try to copy them on rule changes !
While the excitement of this occuring may be in the minds of millions of college fans, the odds of such may not be high. In my 56 years of officiating, I have seen/heard of it occuring in Maine to be less than one :( . Last season in the NFL, it did occur once, after a KCI ^flag took the ball into FG range with time expired in the first half. With an untimed down, the kick sailed thru the pipes ^TD for the first occurance in the NFL since 1976.
Enjoy the new rule...if it becomes that. tiphat:
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So, what is an “awarded” fair catch? Like, maybe where the ball belongs to Team B after a KCI penalty?
Yes, as in the play that occured at the end of the first half of last year's NFL game. In the NFHS book, the free kick option is extended to the following play if an accepted penalty during the play. EXP :
FC @ 50
DPI on 1st play
Ball@ B's 35
Free kick available = 45 yd/FG
Will the NCAA allow such ??? Only time will tell...until enjoy March Madness and Olympic Ice Hockey re-runs aWaRd aWaRd
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I hope that they do NOT allow a team a ‘delayed’ kick attempt after a down has been played following a fair catch. That makes no sense whatsoever. If they allow an uncontested field goal attempt following a fair catch, then you gotta take it right then.
But, I still go back to “What is an ‘awarded’ fair catch? That sounds like a KCI foul after a valid fair catch signal has been given (with or without a catch by Team B). OK, I can buy that. Anything else?
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Yes, in NFHS you get a redo if Team B fouls on the first offensive play by Team A after a fair catch. For example, Team A 1&10 at 50. Pass play by Team A with DPI. Result is Team A 1&10 at B-35. Team A can now opt to attempt a free kick. Any foul by Team B on play 1 after a fair catch creates a redo for Team A’s decision to free kick. It’s never happened to me and I pray it never does.
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Sorry to be nosey, guys, but I'm thrilled to see the NCAA to consider allowing a free kick following a fair catch. More often than not we (NFHS) try to copy them on rule changes !
While the excitement of this occuring may be in the minds of millions of college fans, the odds of such may not be high. In my 56 years of officiating, I have seen/heard of it occuring in Maine to be less than one :( . Last season in the NFL, it did occur once, after a KCI ^flag took the ball into FG range with time expired in the first half. With an untimed down, the kick sailed thru the pipes ^TD for the first occurance in the NFL since 1976.
Enjoy the new rule...if it becomes that. tiphat:
I remember hearing about this happening in Arkansas twice in the same season several years ago. And, both games were officiated by the same crew. :o
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As I understand it this is not a return kick, correct?
I've looked and looked in Anatomy of a Game and I cannot find anywhere that mentions this, so guessing it was something specific and unique only to NFHS (not something NCAA had, and then removed many moons ago)?
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As I understand it this is not a return kick, correct?
I've looked and looked in Anatomy of a Game and I cannot find anywhere that mentions this, so guessing it was something specific and unique only to NFHS (not something NCAA had, and then removed many moons ago)?
A return kick was allowed in NFHS until 1965 (still is in CFL). Back in 1947 ,NFHS added a rule that a drop kick from a return kick could score a field goal. My best guess ??? ??? is when the return kick was removed, a free kick after a fair catch was allowed to stay in. It has never came up for discussion at any NFHS Rules Committee meetings.
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I hope that they do NOT allow a team a ‘delayed’ kick attempt after a down has been played following a fair catch. That makes no sense whatsoever.
In NFHS, when you replay the down, you get all of the options afforded to you again that existed for that particular down.
So you're essentially replaying the down after the fair catch, so you then get that free kick option again.
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I'm super curious as to who is advocating this change at the rules committee level. It seems like it is something that is really obscure and super rare, and I can't see what problem or inequity this rule is trying to solve.
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So, what happens if the kick is short? Is is treated just like a free kick? I.e., B can return? Ball is dead if it touches the ground in the end zone (untouched by B)? Ball is alive and legally recoverable by either team in the field of play? If unsuccessful, B gets the ball at the B-25?
I'l go on record as saying that the NCAA does not need this rule.
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So, what happens if the kick is short? Is is treated just like a free kick? I.e., B can return? Ball is dead if it touches the ground in the end zone (untouched by B)? Ball is alive and legally recoverable by either team in the field of play? If unsuccessful, B gets the ball at the B-25?
I'l go on record as saying that the NCAA does not need this rule.
I agree
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So, what happens if the kick is short? Is is treated just like a free kick? I.e., B can return? Ball is dead if it touches the ground in the end zone (untouched by B)? Ball is alive and legally recoverable by either team in the field of play? If unsuccessful, B gets the ball at the B-25?
I'l go on record as saying that the NCAA does not need this rule.
I guess we will see if NCAA will adopt NFL or NFHS rules for the fair catch free kick (assuming that they are different, I have no idea) or invent something of their own. FWIW my opinions to your questions are that a FCFK is just a FK that can score. If it does not score all rules pertaining to free kicks apply with the "exception" that team B fouls that would be enforced from the previous spot (or offsetting fouls) would obviously allow team A to either rekick or start a new series of downs after the penalty is enforced.. Anything else would be stupid.
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So, what happens if the kick is short? Is is treated just like a free kick? I.e., B can return? Ball is dead if it touches the ground in the end zone (untouched by B)? Ball is alive and legally recoverable by either team in the field of play? If unsuccessful, B gets the ball at the B-25?
I'l go on record as saying that the NCAA does not need this rule.
It is treated just like a kickoff, same rules other than a field goal can be scored. Mechanics differ slightly, chains would be set to illustrate the 10 yard netural zone for the players. R & U are under the pipes to make the call. IMHO, this could be considered an "unicorn" rule, slightly behind that of the "pregnant fullback" (9-9-3). Probably on some officials' bucket list, as it was on mine ::).
The only reason given was : Tp be the same as NFHS and NFL tiphat:
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Yeah with 8 man, you'd probably just put the CJ under the posts with the R.
In 7 man, you'd probably put the U under with the R.
Everyone else remains the same.
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The leg covering rule was not approved. Fair catch free kick, 10 yards for OPI, and the targeting suspension changes were approved.
For the 2026 season, the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee on Thursday approved a one-year trial rule to modify the penalty structure when players are penalized for targeting.
Under the rule, a player disqualified for targeting for the first time during the season, regardless of which half it occurs, may participate in the next game.
Any player disqualified for targeting a second time during the season will be required to miss the first half of the next game. If a player is disqualified for a third targeting penalty during the season, the player will be required to miss the entire next game. No players were disqualified for targeting three times in the 2025 season.
A conference has the option to initiate an appeals process after a player's second targeting offense. The appeal, which can cover the first and second targeting offenses, would be sent to the NCAA national coordinator of football officials, who would then facilitate a video review.
If the call is overturned on appeal, the player will be able to play without sitting out the first half of the next game.
Previously, players disqualified for targeting would be disqualified for the remainder of that game, and if the foul occurred in the second half, the player would sit the first half of the next game.
Since the 2022 season, conference offices have been allowed to appeal second-half targeting disqualifications to the NCAA national coordinator of officials in hopes of having the call overturned so the player would not have to miss the first half of the next game.
Fair catch kick
Under another rule approved Thursday by the oversight committee, a team can choose to attempt a kick after a completed or awarded fair catch. The kick will be a field goal place kick with a holder (no tee) or a drop kick from the spot where the returner caught the ball.
If the ensuing kick goes through the uprights, it will add 3 points to that team's total. The defense is required to be at least 10 yards from the spot of the kick.
This rule further aligns Division I with similar rules that exist in NFL and high school football.
Other rule changes approved
On punts where jersey number exceptions (players who do not wear numbers 50-79) are used, the snapper and two adjacent linemen on either side who are lined up in (or touching) the tackle box are ineligible receivers by position and become exceptions to the numbering rule when the snapper takes his position. This clarifies which players are eligible receivers in the formation.
While the Division I Football Rules Subcommittee is comfortable with the administration of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the oversight committee approved clarifying the rule to give on-field officials guidance to align with the current game. Officials will focus on unsportsmanlike conduct where a player taunts an opponent; actions that interfere with game administration; and celebrations found demeaning to the game or opponent.
Offensive pass interference penalties will be 10 yards. Previously, the penalty for offensive pass interference was 15 yards.
Uniforms
The oversight committee did not approve a proposal that would have required players to wear leg coverings from the top of their shoes to the bottom of their pants.
https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/3/19/media-center-changes-to-penalty-structure-for-targeting-in-di-football-approved.aspx
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Well, that makes it very clear that the Rules Committee doesn’t care about the image of the game, at the very least.
If we see 2 total fair catch field goal attempts across ALL of NCAA football in 2026, I’ll be shocked.
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Well, that makes it very clear that the Rules Committee doesn’t care about the image of the game, at the very least.
If we see 2 total fair catch field goal attempts across ALL of NCAA football in 2026, I’ll be shocked.
I just hope we don't have stupid Free Kick mechanics for this.
If they were smart they would just keep it simple. Line up like a normal free kick, but put the CJ and R under the uprights. Everyone else in their normal position.
7 man, use the R and F. I chose F since if you were to take someone off of a restraining line for this play, it would be someone on R's since they're not going to onside kick. You can easily do B as well.
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I just hope we don't have stupid Free Kick mechanics for this.
If they were smart they would just keep it simple. Line up like a normal free kick, but put the CJ and R under the uprights. Everyone else in their normal position.
7 man, use the R and F. I chose F since if you were to take someone off of a restraining line for this play, it would be someone on R's since they're not going to onside kick. You can easily do B as well.
For a crew of 7, yeah, send the F or S back. Don’t need 2 on the receiving team’s restraining line. Although probably won’t be illegal, an onside kick would be the dumbest move imaginable. Why? You’ve got the ball. Just take the scrimmage series and play ball, unless you need 3 points to tie or win, and there is only time for one down.
So, if they score, and there is time remaining, what happens after the kick? A free kick, just like after any other field goal?
Which begs another question? If the field goal is successful, then the ball would not have been legally touched in the field of play, so the clock wouldn't run. Correct?
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Which begs another question? If the field goal is successful, then the ball would not have been legally touched in the field of play, so the clock wouldn't run. Correct?
I guess this depends on how they write the new rule, but if we go by the current rules, yes, the clock would not run, and we should have another free kick unless there was a penalty on the previous kick. Three free kicks in a row :)
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Three free kicks in a row :)
I’d get a kick out of that! LOL