NCAA Announces Rule Changes for 06-07 Season

This week, the NCAA continued their annual tradition of changing the rules of college football. As is the usual custom, many are upset and crying foul. However, with a very different twist, this year's most significant rule changes are no doubt going to help the underdogs more than the powerhouses. With the NCAA looking to shorten the games this season, they went right away to the obvious solution and tinkered with the clock rules. This comes as no shock since the advent of instant replay made normal length games last over three and a half hours a.k.a. hell on earth for marching bands with wool uniforms.

For the benefit of all, here are explanations of the two main rule changes this year along with their significance. Since you'll hopefully be paying attention at the games this season, it will help to learn them.

1. Clock Timing

The clock will start immediately on any kickoff play during the game. It used to start when the receiving team caught the ball. On a related note, the clock will continue to stop after a first down has been made. However, the clock will start when the official gives the signal instead of when the team on offense snaps the ball.

This is going to cut out a LOT of plays per game this year, anywhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 plays per game. This will help out the defense more often, and it will greatly benefit the underdogs this season. Why? Because underdogs who have a chance to win but end up losing do so due to being much more tired at the end of games. With less plays, they'll have a much better chance at playing a full four quarters (something the Illini hasn't done since about 2002).

2. Instant Replay

It's not mandatory this year, but it's uniform across all the conferences. NFL fans should recognize a lot of what's going on here. There will still be a replay official in the press box, but coaches now have more power. Starting this season, each coach may call a timeout once per game and ask the officials to review the play upstairs. If the coach's challenge is correct, he keeps the timeout. If he's wrong, he loses the timeout. It's not quite the same as the NFL, but it's finally getting closer. One more thing, the away team no longer has the option of deciding whether or not to use instant replay, only the home team does. This will eventually be known as the "Notre Dame Rule" as they were notorious for not allowing instant replay in the majority of their road games last year.

It's a much better system now with coaches allowed to have some say in what affects their team with regards to replay. The NFL system has garnered much praise over the years with regards to the logistics even if the officiating has been horrible. With the NCAA's system, it's getting closer to making up for the horrendous job that college officials do every year, but there's still a long way to go.

There they are, kids. You're now a better college football fan for reading this. Now go back to memorizing your music!