College football is set to introduce coach-to-player helmet communications for the upcoming 2024 season, following a sign-stealing scandal that shook the sport and cast a shadow over Michigan's championship victory in 2023. The NCAA's football oversight committee approved the use of radio technology similar to that used in the NFL, with the football rules committee recommending its adoption for teams in the highest tier of Division I.
Under the new rules, only one player per team will be allowed to be in communication with coaches while on the field, identified by a green dot on the back of the helmet. The communication from the coach to the player will be disabled with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
While the rules committee had been considering coach-to-player communication for some time, concerns about equitable access delayed its implementation. During last year's bowl season, teams were given the option to experiment with helmet communication, but it was not mandatory.
Teams will still have the choice to signal in plays if they prefer. Sign stealing during games remains legal under NCAA rules unless electronic technology is used. Michigan faced scrutiny for an impermissible in-person scouting scheme that aided its sign-stealing operation, resulting in sanctions against then-head coach Jim Harbaugh.
In addition to coach-to-player communications, the NCAA's football oversight committee also approved the use of computer tablets for viewing in-game video by team personnel in coaching booths, on the sideline, and in locker rooms. The rules committee will explore the potential use of wearable technology for sending play calls to the field via small LED screens wrapped around a player's wrist.
Furthermore, an NFL-style two-minute warning will be implemented at the end of the second and fourth quarters of college football games. Teams interested in experimenting with wearable tech must submit proposals to the oversight committee by June 15.
These changes aim to enhance communication and technology in college football while maintaining the integrity and fairness of the game.
