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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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TUCSON, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Place kicker Josh Pollack #30 of the Arizona Wildcats kicks a 30 yard field goal in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at Arizona Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Place kicker Josh Pollack #30 of the Arizona Wildcats kicks a 30 yard field goal in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at Arizona Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

The penalty enforcement on Field Golds rule is going to change.

Under current rules, if there is a penalty on a made field goal, the offense has two options: take the three points, negating the penalty completely, or attempt to continue the offensive drive and get a first down.

When you look at all scoring options for a team, and penalties on any score, field goals are the only ones that stand alone. All other scoring plays have a rule where if a penalty is made, the scoring team has the option to take the points and enforce the penalty on the kickoff.

The 2018 rule change simply aligns field goals with all other scoring plays. So moving forward, if there is a penalty on a made field goal, the offense has the option to keep the points AND enforce the penalty on the kickoff.

It’s not a major change or one that many fans were probably not even aware of. But for the sake of consistency, it makes sense for the NCAA to make this change.

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