American football is a dynamic sport that evolves every year. The NFL and college football have different governing bodies that can make changes to the rules of the game to improve safety, fairness, and entertainment. In 2023, both leagues adopted several rule changes that affected various aspects of the game. Here is a summary of the most important rule changes and their impacts.

The NFL approved four rule changes for the 2023 season, based on the recommendations of the Competition Committee and the input of coaches, players, owners, and media. The rule changes are:

Instant Replay Reversal: When an instant replay decision results in a reversal under 2:00, the play clock will be reset to :40 instead of :25; unless another rule requires otherwise, such as when there is also a :10 runoff, in which case the play clock will be reset to :30. Additionally, inside 2:00, reversing from a ruling with a stopped clock to one with a running clock requires either a :10 second runoff or a charged team timeout. This rule change aims to prevent teams from gaining an unfair advantage by using replay reviews to stop the clock or gain extra time to prepare for the next play.

Failed Fourth-Down Conversions: All failed fourth-down conversions will now be an automatic booth review, similar to other turnover situations. Head coaches are prohibited from challenging a failed fourth-down conversion. However, successful fourth-down conversions still require a coach to challenge unless they occur inside the two-minute warning or during overtime. This rule change intends to ensure consistency and accuracy in the officiating of critical plays that can change the outcome of the game.

Third Quarterback Rule: After the 49ers saw both quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson go down due to injury in the NFC championship game, the league decided to reinstate the third QB rule. This rule allows teams to carry an active third quarterback on game day without that player counting against the roster limit. Here are the conditions under which a third quarterback can be elevated to the starting lineup:

• He must already be a part of the 53-man roster (and can’t be promoted from the practice squad).
• He can only play if the other two quarterbacks are injured.
• In the event one of the injured quarterbacks gets medically cleared to play, the third quarterback is no longer eligible to play.

This rule change aims to protect the integrity of the game and the health of the players by allowing teams to have a backup plan in case of emergency.

Fair Catch Rule: For this season only, the league is incentivizing kick returners to call for a fair catch. During kickoffs, the ball will be spotted at the 25-yard line if a kickoff is fairly caught anywhere inside that line. This drives down the value of talented kick returners but, as the league hopes, will decrease the amount of head injuries and concussions. In previous seasons, some teams chose to employ “pop-up” kicks to pin their opponents deep and make it harder for them to gain optimal field position. With the new rule, those kicks lose effectiveness, and the returning team has less incentive to try and bring the ball back.

College football rule changes:

The most significant 2023 football rules changes involve adjustments to the timing and clock rules. The rules committee made these changes to drive three strategic initiatives:

• Keep the game moving in terms of pace of play.
• Moderately reduce the number of plays per game.
• Ensure consistency in officiating mechanics managing the game clock.

The rule changes are:

• Play Clock: The play clock will start at :40 after all plays, except for kickoffs, penalties, measurements, team timeouts, media timeouts, injuries, and changes of possession. In those situations, the play clock will start at :25. This rule change will eliminate the need for the referee to signal when the play clock should start, and will create a more consistent and predictable pace of play.
• Two-Minute Warning: The game clock will stop at the two-minute mark of each half, similar to the NFL. This rule change will create more excitement and drama at the end of each half, and will give teams more opportunities to manage the clock and execute their strategies.
• Overtime: The overtime format will change to reduce the number of plays and the risk of injuries. After the second overtime period, teams will be required to attempt a two-point conversion instead of an extra point. After the fourth overtime period, teams will alternate two-point conversion attempts until a winner is determined. This rule change will shorten the length of overtime games and encourage more scoring and strategy.

These rule changes reflect the ongoing efforts of the leagues to improve the game for the players, the fans, and the sport.

Next Chapter: Ikenna Ike- Impact of American football outside of the US.