Big changes are coming to college football in 2025, and the game could look very different on the field.
College Football Prepares for Major Rule Shakeups in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
College football is set for a noticeable shift in 2025, with the NCAA Football Rules Committee rolling out a series of changes aimed at improving player safety, sportsmanship, and the pace of play.
The National Football Foundation unveiled several key initiatives this week, highlighting efforts to curb gamesmanship, enhance fairness, and modernize communication across the field.
A primary focus is the crackdown on faking injuries. Teams will now face a timeout penalty—or a delay-of-game penalty if they have none remaining—when a player presents as injured after the ball is spotted by officials.
That player must leave the game for at least one down and cannot return until cleared by the team’s medical staff, a move designed to discourage deceptive tactics and keep games moving.
Overtime Strategy Evolves
Overtime periods will also see adjustments. Each team will receive one timeout in the first extra period and one in the second. From the third overtime onward, teams are limited to just one timeout for the remainder of the game.
Media timeouts will be restricted to after the first and second extra periods, ensuring that extended games maintain momentum.
Other notable rule changes touch on a variety of areas. Officials will now announce review results using the term “upheld” instead of “confirmed” or “stands.” Return specialists can no longer use the “T” signal on kicks or punts, and defensive players near the line of scrimmage are prohibited from abrupt actions meant to draw offensive penalties.
Defenses with 12 or more players on the field after the two-minute timeout risk a penalty, giving the offense the chance to reset the clock.
Additional changes include the expansion of helmet-based coach-to-player communications to the Football Championship Subdivision, the requirement that helmet eye shields be clear, and new classifications of defenseless players, including those recovering loose balls.
Acts simulating weapons will now result in an automatic unsportsmanlike foul, reinforcing sportsmanship standards.
Taken together, these rules aim to make college football safer, faster, and more transparent, while rewarding teams that play honestly and strategically. The 2025 season could look very different as players, coaches, and officials adapt to these changes.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
