The biggest changes heading into the 2019 college football season

Targeting has always been a controversial penalty, as it was created with the right intent, but the wrong enforcement has become common. Inconsistent definitions yielded inconsistent results, but better language has been added to the helmet-leading violation. The penalty will no longer be able to “stand” upon required review. There has to be a clear confirmation of targeting, or the call will be overturned. The penalty was introduced to make the game safer, but an automatic ejection for what can be a bang-bang play isn’t fair. Because of the more stringent requirements for the penalty, a one-game suspension will be assessed after three violations. These are small changes that will hopefully make a big impact.

After a seven-overtime slugfest between LSU and Texas A&M, the NCAA needed to reassess how extra time worked if it wanted its players alive at the end of the game. It took less than a year to make a change. Now, after the fifth overtime period, teams will alternate two-point plays until a winner is determined. This shift keeps the excitement of overtime while protecting the players from overwork.

To continue making kickoffs safer, the NCAA approved a rule completely eliminating the two-man wedge formation on all kickoffs. This is a continuation of last year’s effort to change the kickoff, where the NCAA rules committee allowed fair catches to be made anywhere within 25 yards, resulting in the offense starting the ensuing drive at the 25-yard-line, like a touchback.

The NCAA essentially eliminated all blindside blocks by assessing a 15-yard penalty for “forcible contact” on blindside blocks. How much contact will still be left up to interpretation, but this is another rule that will make the game safer.

After seven years of rebuilding Ohio State back to a premier program, Urban Meyer is retiring from the game again. But it doesn’t come without controversy, much like his last exit from coaching. Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season following an investigation into his handling of domestic abuse allegations against one of his former assistants. He cited that suspension, as well as cumulative health issues, as the reasons for his retirement. While he may not have left on the best of terms in the public eye, college football missing one of its most influential figures is going to be tough for fans to stomach.

The Buckeyes may have lost Urban Meyer, but they gained one of the most highly touted quarterback prospects in the sport. Former No. 1 overall recruit Justin Fields freed himself from his dubious situation in Georgia and joined Ohio State, a program that needs a star quarterback to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Dwayne Haskins. The Bulldogs had their quarterback for the future in Jake Fromm, but Fields bolting to Columbus brings a big shift in their upcoming seasons. This also potentially quickens the timeline for the Buckeyes to recover from losing Haskins, the player who powered their offense.

Hurts may have said and done all the right things at Alabama when he lost his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa, but not even he can suppress his need to compete at a high level. The former SEC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-SEC quarterback accomplished a lot with the Crimson Tide, but he decided to transfer to Oklahoma where he would have a better chance at impressing pro scouts by starting and not playing behind a Heisman Trophy finalist. Much like Ohio State, the Sooners got a top-flight transfer to replace a superstar at arguably the most important position on offense. Oklahoma doesn’t have to wait and see if its quarterback is ready for the big moment, and that’s a scary thing for the rest of the Big 12.

The Mad Hatter is back on the sidelines, and college football is better for it. The national championship-winning coach took one of the toughest jobs in the entire sport, but only he would be crazy enough to try and turn one of the most downtrodden programs in the country into a winner. The Jayhawks might not win a lot in the upcoming season, but at least fans will get the unpredictable fourth-down gambler they all know and love. He’s already getting the ball rolling with some social videos to build hype around a program that’s had very little of it in recent years. The process might be slow, but at least it’ll be entertaining.

Sometimes it takes 22 years to come full circle. After leaving Chapel Hill for Austin, Brown is the head coach at North Carolina again, taking over a program he helped to 10 wins in two straight years, 1996 and 1997, his final two there. His departure from Texas was unceremonious, but he remains a beloved coach to many college football. After a six-year absence, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not Brown still has the juice to build a successful program.

It’s usually the defensive coaches who are getting poached from Alabama, but when the offense finishes third in scoring in the entire country, there are going to be some schools coming after your staff. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, it was a mass exodus. Important assistants like Josh Gattis, Mike Locksley, Brent Key and Dan Enos all have new addresses despite having Tua Tagovailoa for another year at least and one of the most explosive attacks in the nation. With so many changes in key staff positions, it may be tough for Nick Saban to continue his dominance over the sport.

As much as people want to delude themselves into thinking it’s all about the school when it comes to getting recruits, prospects consider the coach more than anything else. So when that coach bolts for a new job, it’s unfair to the player who is now being forced to play for a coach he may not have wanted. The NCAA is now allowing incoming freshmen who enroll in summer school and receive financial aid to transfer and be immediately eligible at their new school if their head coach leaves before the first day of the academic term. Player movement used to be taboo in college football, but it seems the league is softening its stance.

Not only can incoming freshman be immediately eligible upon transferring but so can non-recruited walk-ons and walk-ons who receive financial aid. This could’ve been a rule that allowed a player like Baker Mayfield to freely transfer and contribute right away. Mayfield missed the boat, but other players can reap the benefits now.

Like most head college football head coaches, Jim Harbaugh is a bit of a control freak. To see him hand control of an entire phase of the game (the offense), especially the one he specializes in, will be a bit jarring. Watching wacky Harbaugh formations and play calls might be over, and the sport will never be the same.

In 18 years, Richt won 171 games and finished with a .728 winning percentage, but a frustrating 7-6 season at Miami may have convinced him to step away from coaching. While he never was able to get to the national championship stage, Richt was a model of success and consistency. His teams were not without controversy, but lack of his presence will be felt.

Richt left Miami after the team’s 34-3 loss in the Pinstripe Bowl, but the university was still able to get a huge haul in the transfer market. On offense, the Hurricanes added quarterback Tate Martell, who should keep them in the national spotlight with the hype that has surrounded him since high school. Joining him is graduate transfer K.J. Osborn from Buffalo, who will add experience to a young receiver corps. On defense, the upgrades are even more obvious. They got Bubba Bolden from USC, an NFL prospect who should be a welcome addition to the team, as well as former UCLA players Chigozie Nnoruka and Jaelan Phillips. Miami has been a big player in the transfer market in recent years, but with the rules relaxing, the Hurricanes might be employing a new strategy to build teams that other programs might follow.

The Red Raiders have been known for high-flying offenses led by Kliff Kingsbury in recent years, but after a string of sub .500 seasons, Texas Tech is dumping that finesse style for a tougher approach. Matt Wells led a Utah State team that favored a rougher game on both sides of the ball, and that'll be a big shift to see in Lubbock. Texas Tech has been must-watch TV in college football circles for the offense, but that may slow down with a more balanced approach this year. However, the Aggies averaged 47.5 points last year with Wells at the helm, so this change may not be so bad.

Once considered one of the game’s best offensive minds, Bobby Petrino is now absent from a visible role in Division I. The change might be for the better. He had great ideas, but that genius was overshadowed by his shadier actions. He was involved in a motorcycle accident with his mistress while at Arkansas and was cagey about the situation. The play wasn't great in his final years at Louisville either, culminating in the team giving up an average of 53.8 points per game its last five contests. Petrino was always good for a headline, and that makes his lack of presence hard to swallow.

The 27-year Kansas State head coach built the Wildcat football program up from nothing and turned it into a Big 12 threat every season. His detail-oriented approach to the game is legendary, and to not see him stalk the sidelines in Manhattan is going to be an odd sight.

This will be the first time in 52 seasons that longtime Washington State broadcaster Bob Robertson will not be on the air to call at least one Cougar football game. Frankly, he’s earned his ride into the sunset. Robertson started his career in 1964 and has seen every bowl game the Cougars have played aside from the Rose Bowls in 1930 and 1916. It will be strange not to hear his smooth delivery, but if anyone deserved to walk away, it was Robertson.

The Tigers have built a consistent national championship contender in recent years, and a lot of that can be attributed to one of the greatest defensive lines ever assembled. The Power Rangers, aka Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant and Christian Wilkens, have been the most dangerous men in the trenches, piling up 483 tackles, 126 tackles for loss and 63 sacks together as a unit. That’s a lot of production gone and a lot of questions to be asked. Clemson may have had the best team in the country, but when that foundation is taken away, what is going to happen?

The Tigers have always been a great defensive team, but it has been a while since they have been respected as an offensive force. With Joe Burrow having a solid year at quarterback, offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger coming back and passing coordinator Joe Brady getting people excited in the offseason, this could be the first LSU offense to crack the top 10 in scoring since Les Miles led the team to that achievement. Brady helped the New Orleans Saints finish third in the NFL in scoring and eighth in yards per game. If he can transfer those principles to the college game, this may be one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation.

Not since Kerry Collins has Penn State had a quarterback so important. McSorley was the leader and the heartbeat of this team, throwing for nearly 9,900 yards, finishing with 77 passing touchdowns and notching 30 rushing scores for this career. Not only is that production hard to replace, but the intangibles he brought also were invaluable to the Nittany Lions. The entire landscape of the team has changed, and the Big 10 is not the same without McSorley bringing his dual-threat skills to the field.

Wisconsin turns out some great linebackers, but they don’t come as consistent as T.J. Edwards. He may not be the athletic marvel that some linebackers are, but there are few who equal his intelligence and awareness on the field. Unfortunately for the Badgers, he is no longer on the team. His 366 tackles and 37.5 tackles for loss are gone. Without him dominating the field, Wisconsin is vulnerable and the rest of the Big 10 is a little more open.

Bryce Love terrorized the Pac-12 with his explosive step and decisive running, but even he has to leave after four years. The Stanford running back fought injuries but was the focal point of the Cardinal attack. Without him on the field, the team doesn’t have that home run threat that made the Cardinal nearly unstoppable in the run game. When he was healthy, he eclipsed 2,100 rushing yards and always gave Stanford a chance to win. With him attempting to make it in the NFL, the Pac-12 lost one of its brightest stars.

Technically and legally, nothing has changed regarding players losing their eligibility if they cash in on their name and likeness — yet. A California bill is being presented that will allow student-athletes within the state to be compensated for allowing companies to use their name, image and likeness. The NCAA has already threatened to strip away bowl eligibility for all California teams if the state passes the law. While that might not be changed, it’s one of the more legitimate challenges to the status quo that the athletic association has faced. California might be the first state to introduce this bill, but if it passes, other states may follow suit for their universities to compete for top recruits. The conversation has shifted from not giving these players anything to actually allowing them to take ownership of their public personas. That’s a big step for college athletes, and this case will be closely followed until the end.