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NCAA Announces Changes To Timeouts Rule In College Football

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 9:29 AM ET

The biggest constant in college football is change and while many of the biggest changes recently have been for off-the-field issues, there will be a noteworthy change to the in-game timeout rule in 2025 and beyond.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that it has approved modifications to the injury timeout rules, which will go into effect next season. The new rule will force a team to expend a timeout if medical personnel enter the field to check on an injured player after the ball is spotted by an official for the new play. In the absence of a timeout, a five-yard delay of game penalty will be assessed instead.

This rule is aimed at mitigating players faking injuries. If they don't stay down on the field due to an injury, their team will now be at risk of losing vital timeouts or yardage.

"Under the new rule, if medical personnel enter the field to evaluate an injured player after the ball is spotted by the officiating crew for the next play, that player's team will be charged a timeout," the NCAA announced.

"If the team does not have any timeouts remaining, a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty will be assessed."

Changes to injury timeouts approved in football. https://t.co/VHnOqduEgi
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) April 17, 2025

In addition to that timeout rule, the NCAA will be making a tweak to the overtime timeout rule. The new rule would give teams just a single timeout after the third overtime period as opposed to one per period.

"The panel also approved a rule change regarding overtime timeouts. If a game reaches a third overtime, each team will have one timeout beginning with the third overtime until a winner is determined," the organization announced.

"Previously, teams were allotted one timeout for each overtime period. At the start of the third overtime, teams alternate running 2-point plays until a winner is decided."

The overtime timeout rule will certainly make things more complicated for teams in games where they go beyond two overtimes. Coaches will need to really manage their time wisely.

As for the injury timeout rule, enforcement is going to be the key to making that one work. But anything that combats fake timeouts has the potential to work out well.

Do you like the rule changes?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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