The upcoming college football season brings several notable adjustments that will affect teams, coaches and fans nationwide.
College Football Playoff structure
The CFP confirmed that the champions of the Power Four conferences—Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12—receive automatic playoff spots. In addition, the highest‑ranked team from the Group of Six (the Pac‑12, American, Conference USA, Mid‑American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will also earn a berth, regardless of whether it wins its conference.
The remaining seven slots in the 12‑team bracket will go to the next highest‑ranked teams, without regard to conference affiliation. Notre Dame will receive an automatic playoff berth if it finishes the season ranked inside the top 12.
Targeting rule revisions
Targeting penalties have been softened. A player’s first targeting offense will no longer affect eligibility for the following game. A second offense will result in a suspension for the first half of the next game, and a third offense will trigger a full‑game suspension. Conferences may appeal a second‑offense suspension, with a video review conducted by the NCAA’s national coordinator of football officials.
Offensive pass interference has also been reduced from a 15‑yard to a 10‑yard penalty.
New scoring option
Teams may now attempt a field goal after a fair catch. The kicker can either drop‑kick from the spot of the catch or use a holder, mirroring a recent NFL experiment.
Sponsored jersey patches
Effective August 1, the NCAA allows schools to place sponsored patches on uniforms. Ohio State and Notre Dame have reportedly secured deals worth a combined $30 million. Other partners include Tyson Foods (Arkansas), Axle Logistics (Tennessee), SRM Concrete (Vanderbilt), Ripple XRP (Kansas) and Palmetto State Armory (The Citadel). Progressive Insurance has also signed on to display its logo on the fields of 13 schools.
New members in the Football Bowl Subdivision
Sacramento State and North Dakota State have joined the FBS, raising the total to 138 teams. Sacramento State entered the MAC, while North Dakota State’s FCS program moved to the Mountain West. Both schools are eligible for bowl games if they achieve at least six wins.
Coaching changes
Thirty‑four of the 138 FBS programs have new head coaches. The SEC leads with six new hires, followed by the American with five. Notable moves include James Franklin heading to Virginia Tech, Matt Campbell taking over at Penn State, Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU, and Pete Golding being promoted at Ole Miss.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
