Safety prompts rule change for overtime

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Concerns about player safety and limiting exposure to injury and fatigue may prompt rule changes in two different aspects of college football.

The NCAA announced Thursday that its Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved changes to overtime rules beginning with the 2021 season.

Teams will now be required to attempt 2-point conversions after touchdowns after the second overtime period, rather than the third. Teams can still attempt a point-after kick following a touchdown in the first overtime period.

Opponents will also begin alternating 2-point plays in the third overtime period, rather than the fifth.

In a news release, the NCAA said the change was being made to “limit the number of plays from scrimmage and bring the game to a quicker conclusion.”

On the other side of the spectrum, the panel also supported a Football Rules Committee proposal to allow schools or conferences to request postgame video review into possible feigning of injuries.

Thursday’s news followed a Wednesday report by Sports Illustrated on significant changes to preseason football by the NCAA legislative committee.

According to the report, the Football Oversight Committee plans to recommend a reduction in full-padded preseason practices from the current 21 to eight. Collision exercises such as the “Oklahoma Drill” would be abolished. Teams would be limited to two scrimmages rather than three-and-a-half.

Those changes were prompted by a joint NCAA/ Department of Defense study on concussions. According to the article, that study found that 72 percent of concussions occurred during practice, with almost half occurring in the preseason. The study monitored six Division I programs from 2015-19.

According to SI, the proposed changes will be sent to member schools for feedback before potentially recommending them to the Division I Council.