2025 Rule Book versions

[ElvisLives]

I just encountered something disturbing, and haven't checked the whole book(s), but, in the PDF version, AR 9-2-3-I is highlighted and changed from the 2024 version. However, in looking at the hard-copy version our local association received last week (presumably from the NCAA through our state association), AR 9-2-3-I is not highlighted, and is unchanged from 2024. I wonder if the NCAA sent an unfinished version to the printer (accidentally?), and then published the finished version electronically?

Anybody have positive knowledge one way or another?

[dammitbobby]

Forget the highlighting. In my physical rulebook and 2025 PDF rulebook, there are deltas in the literal text in 9-2-3-I between the two. And also deltas in highlighting and text in 9-2-3-II (relatively minor, in that the change was from 'initial keys' to areas of responsibilities' but a change, nonetheless.)

9-2-3-I: (2025 PDF):
RULING: The play is shut down, the game clock is stopped and the defense is allowed to substitute in response to Team A’s late substitutions. Team A will be penalized 5-yards for delay of game. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and starts on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal or the snap, depending on its condition when play was stopped.

Physical 2025 Rulebook:
RULING: The play is shut down, the game clock is stopped and the defense is allowed to substitute in response to Team A’s late substitutions. No foul. Team A will be penalized 5-yards for delay of game. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and starts on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal or the snap, depending on its condition when play was stopped.

[ElvisLives]

Forget the highlighting. In my physical rulebook and 2025 PDF rulebook, there are deltas in the literal text in 9-2-3-I between the two. And also deltas in highlighting and text in 9-2-3-II (relatively minor, in that the change was from 'initial keys' to areas of responsibilities' but a change, nonetheless.)

9-2-3-I: (2025 PDF):
RULING: The play is shut down, the game clock is stopped and the defense is allowed to substitute in response to Team A’s late substitutions. Team A will be penalized 5-yards for delay of game. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and starts on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal or the snap, depending on its condition when play was stopped.

Physical 2025 Rulebook:
RULING: The play is shut down, the game clock is stopped and the defense is allowed to substitute in response to Team A’s late substitutions. No foul. Team A will be penalized 5-yards for delay of game. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and starts on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal or the snap, depending on its condition when play was stopped.

Bobby, I just checked the PDF version currently on the RefQuest CFO web site and penalty statement at AR 9-2-3-I is highlighted, and different from 2024. My FBS contacts tell me that this AR was reviewed in their clinics and confirmed the 2025 intent is that the first occurrence is a DOG foul, and all subsequent are UNS fouls. The hard copy books provided from TASO may not be current. That’s a problem.

[dammitbobby]

Interesting. I pulled the 2025 rulebook PDF from the NCAA website, and side by side (NCAA site and Refquest) and 9-2-3-I is identical in both, but in 9-2-3-II, there is still a delta in terminology between the two (keys/areas of responsibilty).

So the physical book doesn't match the Refquest PDF, which sometimes does, sometimes doesn't align with the PDF on the NCAA rulebook download site, which doesn't align with the physical book.

[ElvisLives]

Interesting. I pulled the 2025 rulebook PDF from the NCAA website, and side by side (NCAA site and Refquest) and 9-2-3-I is identical in both, but in 9-2-3-II, there is still a delta in terminology between the two (keys/areas of responsibilty).

So the physical book doesn't match the Refquest PDF, which sometimes does, sometimes doesn't align with the PDF on the NCAA rulebook download site, which doesn't align with the physical book.

Yeah, by my research, there are three different versions of the 2025 NCAA rule book “out there.” The hard copy version we received from the NCAA (through TASO) appears to be the ‘oldest’ version. The PDF version on the RefQuest/CFO web site is different than the hard copy version, specifically AR 9-2-3-I (which is a significant difference). And the version on the NCAA Publications web site is slightly different than the RefQuest version, specifically AR 9-2-3-II. I ‘assume’ the version on the NCAA site is the most recent, and, therefore, the most current version.
I have tried to compare the versions to find any other differences, but those are what I have found.
I’m using the version now on the NCAA web site.

[peterparsons]

You're correct in assuming that the one on the NCAA site is more recent.

I use Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDFs, and on the File menu it has a Properties option which tells you when a PDF was created. The one on RefQuest was created on 9th June, and the one on the NCAA website on 29th July.

[ElvisLives]

You're correct in assuming that the one on the NCAA site is more recent.

I use Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDFs, and on the File menu it has a Properties option which tells you when a PDF was created. The one on RefQuest was created on 9th June, and the one on the NCAA website on 29th July.