The NCAA football rules committee is trying to make college football safer by giving defenses more rest.
The committee proposed a new rule that would slow down hurry-up offenses by allowing the defense to substitute players within the first 10 seconds of the 40-second play clock, according to ESPN.com. Offenses would receive a 5-yard delay of game penalty if they snapped the football within the first 10 seconds of the play clock. The rule would not apply in the last two minutes of each half. The rule also would not apply when there’s a 25-second game clock.
Under current rules, defenses are only allowed to sub in players if the offense makes a substitution first. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielma complained last summer that up-tempo offenses can cause injuries on defense.
Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez, a proponent of the hurry-up spread offense, called the proposed rule change “ridiculous.”
Many NFL teams run an up-tempo offense. There’s a fear that college players won’t be ready for the pros if they’re not accustomed to running or defending the hurry-up.
