Recently, the rule changes in College Football have come in the form of off-the-field changes whether it’s to NIL, Revenue Sharing, the transfer portal, and more. As the 2025 College Football season approaches, many may not realize that several key changes were made to the rules between the white lines.

The NCAA revisited some of the biggest issues of the 2024-25 College Football season and changed the rules to either add guidelines for the officials or close any potential loopholes that were exposed. Ahead of the season, every fan should learn about the following new rules that will be in effect for 2025.

Faking Injuries:

Last season, one of the biggest stories came when the SEC had to release what was quickly dubbed “The Lane Kiffin rule” as Ole Miss was blatantly faking injuries to get free timeouts. This season, if a player is “injured” after the ball is spotted by the officials, the team will be charged with a timeout and if the team is out of timeouts they will be given a delay of game penalty. Additionally, the player will have to remain out of the game for one snap even if a timeout is charged.

Overtime Timeouts:

When a game reaches overtime, each team will be granted one time out for the first overtime period and the second overtime period. Once the game reaches the point where they go back and forth attempting 2 point conversions, the team will be granted only one timeout until the game ends. TV timeouts can and will take place after the first two overtime periods but, not during the third overtime period.

Instant Replay Verbiage:

In the past, a referee would declare that a call on the field “stands” if there wasn’t conclusive evidence or they would “confirm” the call if they had clear video evidence to back up the call. The officials will now eliminate both words from their vocabulary and use the term “upheld” if the call stands.

T Signal on Kickoffs:

During Bowl Season, South Carolina and Illinois got into a massive disagreement when Bret Bielema felt that the Gamecocks kick returner used the T-Signal than returned the ball which typically indicates touchback. Now after a player uses the “T-Signal” there will be no return.

Pre-snap Movement:

Defensive Linemen are now prohibited from making any quick or “exaggerated” movement that interfere with offensive snap calls.

Disconcerting Signals:

A defensive player cannot use any words or signals that would indicate the play is going to begin in an effort to confuse the offense. The defense is given two designated words, “Stem” and “Move” while defensive players are no longer allowed to clap which is used by the offense.

Substitution Fouls by the Defense:

Last season, Dan Lanning found a loophole in the rule book and decided to play with more than 11 players during the final snap against the Ohio State Buckeyes as it cost the Ducks 5 yards but, allowed the game to end. Now, the officials will give the defense a 5-yard penalty while allowing the offense to decide if they’d like the clock to be reset to where it was when the ball was snapped with the clock starting again on the next snap.

Eye Shields:

While Football players love the look of a tinted visor, any company producing the visors must submit nearly clear visors to the NCAA for approval. Only Oakley and Nike have submitted and have been granted approval for the season.

Defenseless Players:

This season, any player attempting to recover a loose ball or a fumble is considered a defenseless player bringing some order to scrums for the football.

Unsportsmanlike Fouls:

Any player who simulates brandishing a weapon on the field in 2025 will be given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

More College Football News:

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt revealed his College Football Playoff crashes for the 2025 season and there are four intriguing teams to look at. Based on the list, he took one from each Power Four conference.

These aren’t teams that will necessarily make the College Football Playoff of course. Heck, they might not even be dark horses to some people, but Klatt likes the moxie.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the CFP party crashers for this season. We’ll start over in the Big Ten.

Jedd Fisch had to start from scratch when he took the Huskies’ job a little later thane expected. Of course, that’s because Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama following a national title run. But Year 2 under Fisch could be very promising.

Klatt: “They might have, and no one talks about them, the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver combo. That trifecta in the Big Ten: Demond Williams was terrific last year (at QB), Jonah Coleman (RB) is an excellent player, and Denzel Boston is an excellent wide receiver on the outside.”

Eli Drinkwitz led this team to back-to-back 10-win seasons, albeit win No. 10 came in the bowl game last season. But, the Tigers’ defense might be the best it’s ever been under their current coach. It’s just a matter of the offense stepping up in 2025.

Klatt: “Over the last couple of years, they’ve recruited well, Drinkwitz has a culture at Missouri, I’m a fan of Beau Pribula. I know that they haven’t settled on quarterback yet, but I saw him at Penn State last year. Hard for them to keep him off the field … Here’s what I can say in terms of on the field, it’s off the field, it’s off the field. They hit the schedule lottery in the SEC.”

Utah is an intriguing case every year considering they have Kyle Whittingham at the helm. They totally redid this roster, so it’ll be a case of it working extremely well or blowing up in Utah’s faces.

Klatt: “I put them into my top 25 right at the end, at number 25 because of this: when nobody is talking about them, that is when they’re at their most dangerous. Coming off the season, they went 5-7, that was all injury related for Kyle Whittingham, in particular at the quarterback position … and then they upgraded significantly at that position, with the New Mexico transfer Devin Dampier … I think they will be a little bit more of an RPO style team, which will help their offensive line and run game … Defense should be solid.”

Brent Key might have something cooking at Georgia Tech. Haynes King is back at QB and Jamal Haynes is an intriguing running back. The defense also landed key defensive line transfers AJ Hoffler and Matthew Alexander.

Klatt: “I really love Haynes King … It’s not that I didn’t like Georgia Tech Haynes King and Jamal Haynes the running back, that’s a really good combination (despite not putting them in the top 25 right now). I love the fact that they can play with the best teams in the country … They’ve got an opportunity to put themselves on the radar. Why? Well, because they open at Colorado.”

In what is believed to be one of the largest gifts in college athletics history, the University of Kansas announced that alumnus David Booth pledged $300 million to support athletics and campus development. The donation includes $75 million aimed at funding the next phase of the Gateway District and renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, while the remainder is expected to provide long-term support for Kansas athletics programs.

Booth, a Lawrence native and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, has a long history of giving to Kansas. His previous contributions include a $50 million gift in 2017 that helped launch renovations at the football stadium, which was later named in his honor.

“David’s unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future,” Kansas athletics director Travis Goff said in a release. “… We’re profoundly grateful for David’s leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor.”

The Gateway District project includes new student housing, a hotel, expanded retail and restaurant space, an outdoor plaza and additional parking. Phase 2 of the project, which aims to finish the south and east sides of the football stadium and develop the surrounding mixed-use district, has an estimated cost of $346 million, according to a Lawrence city commissioner meeting agenda. City officials approved an $86 million tax incentive package to support the project, with a maximum of $94.6 million in public funding available. The total cost of the Gateway Project, including the first phase that renovated much of the stadium and added a conference center, is estimated at $794 million.

University officials said the donation also provides flexibility for athletics programs amid changing NCAA regulations and revenue-sharing structures.

Booth, who earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Kansas before completing an MBA at the University of Chicago, said he views the gift as an investment in the university’s future.

“One of life’s greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you,” Booth said in a release. “KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we’re building.”

The announcement comes less than two weeks before the Jayhawks’ Aug. 23 season opener against Fresno State.

As Candace Parker embarked on her legendary WNBA career following her time at Tennessee, she signed an endorsement deal with adidas. After her retirement, she became the company’s president of women’s basketball.

Now, her alma mater is preparing to return to the brand she wore on Rocky Top. Tennessee announced Wednesday it is signing a 10-year deal with adidas, which also includes NIL opportunities for Vols and Lady Vols athletes.

Tennessee previously had an agreement with adidas, which expired in 2014. Now, UT is returning to the brand, Parker reacted to the news in a press release from Tennessee. She expressed excitement for what the future holds.

“From my days rocking the orange and white to now leading on and off the court, adidas has always had my back with the best gear and support,” Parker said in a statement. “Seeing adidas link back up with Tennessee feels like coming full circle. I know this partnership is going to open a ton of doors for the next generation of Vols – and I couldn’t be more hype about it.”

Parker’s partnership with adidas began in 2008, and her signature shoe with the company launched in 2010 – making her the ninth player in league history to debut a sneaker. She officially joined adidas in an executive role in 2024 while also serving as a TV analyst for TNT Sports.

More on Tennessee’s return to adidas

In Wednesday’s announcement, Tennessee said the deal with adidas includes “unprecedented NIL opportunities” for athletes at the school. Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported players will get a slice of the pie, and adidas is even working quickly to secure deals with Vols athletes this school year. The new contract doesn’t officially start until next school year.

The NIL component of Tennessee’s deal with adidas – which could be worth at least $10 million, according to Dellenger – is especially important in the post-House v. NCAA settlement landscape. Under the agreement, schools can share up to $20.5 million directly with athletes through revenue-sharing. However, there isn’t a cap on third-party NIL deals, meaning adidas can effectively help with “over-the-cap” opportunities.

Tennessee left adidas in 2014 to sign with Nike, and the amended deal runs through 2026. Through the partnership, the university is set to receive $1.2 million in base compensation in 2025-26 and $4.5 million in annual product allotment.

UT initially signed its deal with Nike in 2014, and the original contract paid the school $7.6 million through 2022-23. However, the amendment increased that figure to 11.6 million over 11 years and increased the scheduled payment to $1.2 million for the final three years of the agreement, starting in 2023-24.

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Athletics has announced two significant additions to its executive leadership team, further strengthening the department’s progressive approach to the new era of college athletics which includes strategic financial modeling, roster and cap management, NIL advancement and student-athlete talent acquisition. 
 
Mitch Moser has been appointed Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 30 years of experience in higher education finance and athletic administration. In this role, Moser will oversee all aspects of the department’s financial operations, while providing strategic fiscal planning and implementation guidance aligned with the evolving intercollegiate athletics model. His leadership will be central to Mississippi State’s revenue-sharing strategy, budget structure, cap management and long-term capital funding efforts.
 
“My family and I are beyond thrilled to join the Mississippi State Family,” Moser said. “In today’s ever-changing landscape, innovation, forward thinking and elite competition aren’t just important – they’re essential. From my first conversations with Zac, it was clear he values these principles at the highest level, making Mississippi State an undeniable destination for us. We can’t wait to embrace the opportunities ahead and are truly grateful for the chance to contribute to new heights for this athletics department.”
 

Moser has held senior administrative roles at Rice and Duke, most recently serving as Deputy Director of Athletics/Resource Development & Management/CFO at Duke. He later led strategic planning efforts for institutions across the country through his work with Huron Consulting Group. His experience spans resource generation, scenario-based fiscal modeling, master facility planning and the successful execution of major department-wide initiatives.
 
Greg Phillips has been named Deputy Athletics Director for Talent Management Services, a newly created division which will lead all aspects of student-athlete acquisition, brand development, NIL integration, contracting and related budgetary and compliance operations. Phillips will oversee the development of a comprehensive talent strategy that includes fiscal oversight, market evaluation and strategic brand alignment for current and future student-athletes.
 
“My wife, Deanna, and I are honored and excited to begin this new chapter at Mississippi State,” Phillips said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside elite coaches, players, agents, and administrators during times of great transformation. As college athletics continues to evolve, it has never been more important to remain agile, intentional, and strategic in our approach. What stood out immediately when visiting with Zac about Mississippi State was the strong alignment and unwavering commitment to excellence. This is a department prepared to meet the moment, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to join such a passionate community. We look forward to contributing to the success and continued momentum of Mississippi State Athletics.”
 
A former senior executive at IMG and longtime athletics administrator at Oklahoma and Florida State, Phillips brings a unique blend of corporate, consulting and collegiate experience. Most recently, he served as CEO of NorthStar Leadership Strategies, where he advised university presidents, athletics directors and executives across sports and business on growth, performance and leadership strategy.
 
In addition, KK Seago has joined Mississippi State Athletics as Director of Business Partnerships within the Bulldog Club. In this role, Seago will focus on developing third-party NIL and business development opportunities for student-athletes, while building strong relationships with university units and external stakeholders. A Jackson native and Mississippi State graduate, she brings valuable experience from her previous work in political fundraising and corporate partnerships in Washington, D.C. For more information on how to partner with MSU student-athletes email Seago at kseago@athletics.msstate.edu.

The trio of Moser, Phillips and Seago began their respective roles in the department this summer.