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NCAA Subcommittee Proposes College Football Rule Changes for 2026 Trial

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Division I Football Rules Subcommittee Proposes 2026 Trial Modifications

The Division I Football Rules Subcommittee has proposed several rule modifications for a one-year trial period during the 2026 college football season. These proposals include adjustments to the targeting penalty structure, new uniform regulations, and the introduction of a fair catch kick. The recommendations are pending approval from the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Oversight Committees, with reviews scheduled for March 19 and March 23, respectively.

Targeting Penalty Adjustments

The subcommittee has recommended a revised penalty structure for targeting violations for the one-year trial:

  • First Offense: A player disqualified for targeting for the first time in a season would be eligible to play in the next game, regardless of which half the foul occurred.
  • Second Offense: A player disqualified for targeting a second time in a season would be required to miss the first half of the next game.
  • Third Offense: A player disqualified for a third targeting penalty in a season would be required to miss the entire next game.

Under the current rule, a player disqualified for targeting is ejected for the remainder of the game. If the penalty occurs in the second half, the player must miss the first half of the subsequent game.

A new appeals process would be introduced, allowing conferences to appeal a player's first or second targeting offense to the NCAA national coordinator of football officials for video review. If an appeal overturns the call, the player would not serve the associated suspension. Since the 2022 season, conferences have been able to appeal second-half targeting calls to potentially overturn a first-half suspension in the next game.

A.J. Edds, rules subcommittee chair, stated that these changes aim to balance safety considerations with an appropriate penalty structure and to enhance progressive penalties for coaching and player education.

Uniform Regulations

The subcommittee also proposed new uniform rules concerning leg coverings:

  • Players would be required to wear leg coverings that extend from the top of their shoes to the bottom of their pants.
  • These coverings must be of the same style and color for all players on a team during a specific game.

A non-compliant player would be required to leave the game for at least one down to correct the issue. Penalties for team violations would be implemented as follows:

  • First team offense: Warning.
  • Second team offense: 5-yard penalty.
  • Subsequent offenses: 15-yard penalty.

Edds noted that the current uniform presentation has not met expectations, indicating a need for consistent enforcement.

Fair Catch Kick Proposal

A new proposal would allow a team to attempt a fair catch kick following a completed or awarded fair catch:

  • The kick would be a field goal place kick with a holder (without a tee) or a drop kick from the spot of the fair catch.
  • If successful, the kick would add three points to the team's score.
  • The defensive team would be positioned at least 10 yards from the kick spot.

This rule aims to align Division I football with similar rules currently in place in the NFL and high school football.

Approval Process

These proposed rule changes require approval from both the FBS and FCS Oversight Committees to become official. The FBS Oversight Committee is scheduled to review the recommendations on March 19, and the FCS Oversight Committee will review them on March 23.