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Arizona Football: New Rules for the 2018 Season

By Mark Barrera

7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /
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BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 07: Shun Brown #6 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on October 7, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 07: Shun Brown #6 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on October 7, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

As a fan of football, whether it’s college or pro, the kickoff return game first of the most exciting.

During a kickoff, everyone is on edge waiting to see their team burst through the crowd and race to the end zone. However, over the years the kickoff game has been a focal point with regards to player safety, and for a good reason.

The blind side blocks, de-cleating someone from the other team, or laying out the return man are all areas of concern and cringing moments we have all suffered through. But not as much a the athlete. Way too often it in these moments where we see the most injuries, or specifically injuries to a players head.

In 2013 we saw the NCAA make a rule change to encourage teams to take a touchback. Before 2013, whenever there was a touchback on a kickoff, the ball was brought out to the 20-yard line. The NCAA then made changed the rule to have the ball brought out to the 25-yard line. In a game of inches, five yards can make or break a play.

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Special Teams coaches began working with kickers to perfect a shorter kickoff to counter the rule change. And just like how teams started to make the game work for them, the NCAA found ways to make the game work for themselves as well.

In 2018, whenever a players fair catches the ball within the 20-yard line, the team will receive the ball at the 25-yard line. It will be treated the same as if they caught and downed the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

Again the incentive the NCAA is proposing to teams is to take the field advantage over the risk.

It will be interesting to see how teams approach this new rule. But one thing is for sure… kickoffs are getting closer and closer to being phased out.

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