With the college football season quickly approaching, there are some big changes that will impact how the game is played and the fan viewing experience.
The first being the two-minute warning. While we’re used to seeing this on Sundays in the NFL, an extra timeout will be added at the end of the first and second halves in the college game.
Is this a money-making move for television networks and their ad partners?
One-hundred percent.
But, it is changing the way teams approach in-game situations.
“Well I got a manual and went through that whole thing analytically and what that means and how it looks. We got to rep the heck out of it,” Washington State head coach Jake Dickert said. “We didn’t do as much of it in the spring, but coaches timeouts, it’s kind of simplified our offensive strategy. As you look at it, defense has been way different.”
“I do think strategy matters,” Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best said. “Having never done it, it’s kind of like having a kid. You have an idea, but you don’t know until you know.”
“I think it helps everybody with clock management, Idaho head coach Jason Eck said. “I thought that was something that was a strength of our team last year that we managed the clock pretty well. So I think this helps some people give them an extra timeout at the end of those game situations.”
The second change applies to only FBS schools, but is taking the sports into 21st century. For the first time players will be able to communicate with the coaches via in-helmet technology.
But here’s the catch.
Only four players on the team can be equipped, and only one of those four can be on the field at a time.
“Right now we’re not using it on defense,” Dickert said. “I just haven’t found a really applicable way of doing it so we’re getting used to that. We just got the shut off valve because it shuts off at fifteen seconds. We got to get that rolling for coach [Arbuckle]. Every once in a while I look up and he’s still talking past fifteen.”
Finally, another innovation we’ve seen in the NFL making its way down to college football is tablets. Now, players will be able to go from the field, to the sidelines and break down the previous drive with coaches in real time. We’ve seen a preview of how it’ll look during training camp.
“It’s only going to help us and it’s only going to help the in-game adjustments,” Washington State quarterback John Mateer said. “If I can go on the sideline and see a coverage I wasn’t sure what it is and I can look at it and see oh I can identify it, the game is just going to grow and we’re all going to learn. Us, other schools, it’s just good for the game of football in my opinion.”
Now, how will this all look?
Well it’s anyone’s guess at this point, but we will find out in just a few days as week zero of the college football season kicks off on Saturday.
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