NEW First Down Rule

[EverythingOrange]

Well, I HATE it! Stopping the clock on first down has always been a unique part of college football.

To be honest, running the clock caters to “run” offenses & the old “Three yards & a cloud of dust”. - I know, I know: It’s the defense’s job to stop them. But, it makes it much easier for a rushing team to just milk away a game with the clock constantly running.

Plus, college ball is not the NFL - or soccer!

 

[GAVol]

You won't notice after the 1st quarter of the first game.

 

[volsrock09]

Well, I HATE it! Stopping the clock on first down has always been a unique part of college football.

To be honest, running the clock caters to “run” offenses & the old “Three yards & a cloud of dust”. - I know, I know: It’s the defense’s job to stop them. But, it makes it much easier for a rushing team to just milk away a game with the clock constantly running.

Plus, college ball is not the NFL - or soccer!

Think of it this way, the running team would still be able to milk the clock if they wanted to. The clock started when the ball was set in play.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe within 2 minutes of each half the clock stops on 1st downs. Could be wrong about that one.

 

[Volbrando]

wonder if they will wait on the chain gang to move... I see controversy brewing

 

[GAVol]

wonder if they will wait on the chain gang to move... I see controversy brewing

Nope . . . Going to be like the NFL until 2:00 to go in the half when it reverts back. It'll make it easier to manage and probably cut 7-10 plays out of the game . . . but those were just going to be kneel downs for us in Victory formation anyway.

 

[VOLfrombama]

I think it helps uptempo offenses. These O's that need 8+ minutes to score are the ones that are going to be in trouble. There will be less time on the clock, so less time to score Fiddy-one.

The only thing that might change is Heup will need to use his timeouts more wisely and not carry them with him to the locker room as often.

 

[JohnWardForever]

You won't notice after the 1st quarter of the first game.

Oh yes I will, since I watch, study, anticipate, and analyze; for like 40 years. So yeah, I'll be *itching about it for a while. Saban lobbied for this change, cause He was tired of losing to inferior talent that ran the hurry up offense. Less game time means advantage to the more Powerful teams. All under the guise of "Player Safety". Why do Lower IQ people (than those who made the original rules) have to screw with perfection? Somebody's agenda. Give me the game as it was in the 70's. Perfect. I assume you will retort, but Frankly------------

 

[Tin Man]

Well, I HATE it! Stopping the clock on first down has always been a unique part of college football.

To be honest, running the clock caters to “run” offenses & the old “Three yards & a cloud of dust”. - I know, I know: It’s the defense’s job to stop them. But, it makes it much easier for a rushing team to just milk away a game with the clock constantly running.

Plus, college ball is not the NFL - or soccer!

Stoppage time for CFB?!?!

 

[GAVol]

I think it helps uptempo offenses. These O's that need 8+ minutes to score are the ones that are going to be in trouble. There will be less time on the clock, so less time to score Fiddy-one.

The only thing that might change is Heup will need to use his timeouts more wisely and not carry them with him to the locker room as often.

It's going to be interesting to see what this truly does to the total number of snaps. I get the general idea of shaving a few minutes off the game and over time effectively cutting out a game's worth of head impacts over the course of the season. But I wonder if it will be extreme enough to actually cut out possessions?

 

[Sea Ray]

If you watch carefully, this rule only runs about 5 secs off the clock on each 1st down. It's not a big deal

 

[VOLfrombama]

It's going to be interesting to see what this truly does to the total number of snaps. I get the general idea of shaving a few minutes off the game and over time effectively cutting out a game's worth of head impacts over the course of the season. But I wonder if it will be extreme enough to actually cut out possessions?

UT averaged 10 minutes less a game than their opponents last season.

UT OPP
46 ppg v. 23 OR 599 v. 296 total points scored
945 to 991 total plays
25 minutes v. 35 mins TOP


= less plays and less time needed to score more than double the points

Everyone is going to have less time to score without extra stoppage. So I fail to see how this hurts Heup and Co. Im all ears though if anyone can help me understand.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Claim is it will shorten the game. The truth is that it will keep the game length the same but allow for 10 to 15 more commercials

 

[Dadof2Vols]

I foresee about 10 more injury timeouts a game on long first downs. Teams not used to this will have lineman struggling to get down field and set so they will perform the Ole Kiffin And fall down.

 

[Stoked]

Claim is it will shorten the game. The truth is that it will keep the game length the same but allow for 10 to 15 more commercials

Thi$

 

[Pride85]

UT averaged 10 minutes less a game than their opponents last season.

UT OPP
46 ppg v. 23 OR 599 v. 296 total points scored
945 to 991 total plays
25 minutes v. 35 mins TOP


= less plays and less time needed to score more than double the points

Everyone is going to have less time to score without extra stoppage. So I fail to see how this hurts Heup and Co. Im all ears though if anyone can help me understand.

Nope, you are basically right. This has Saban's DNA all over it. Had this rule been in place last year, we would not have been able to kick the winning field goal. They wouldn't have even had time to call a timeout.

 

[BDP!]

I'm not for any rule that speeds up the game. College football already goes by to fast.

 

[Allvols98]

Gotta be called the bama rule.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Nope, you are basically right. This has Saban's DNA all over it. Had this rule been in place last year, we would not have been able to kick the winning field goal. They wouldn't have even had time to call a timeout.

Good point about the end of the bama game. It would have gone to OT and who know what would have happened there.

 

[Boca Vol]

Nope, you are basically right. This has Saban's DNA all over it. Had this rule been in place last year, we would not have been able to kick the winning field goal. They wouldn't have even had time to call a timeout.

The rule doesn't apply in the last 2 minutes of each half. Yes, the clock would've stopped at the end of the Bama game. Here are the new rules:


College Football Rule Changes for 2023
1. Outlawing consecutive timeouts. This rule would prevent one timeout from being called right after another, which often happens as teams try to ice kickers.
2. Not extending quarters. This rule will make it so that a first or third quarter would not be extended for an un-timed down if the quarter ends on a defensive penalty. In that case, the down would be clocked in the next quarter.
3. Running clock. According to this rule, the clock will continue to run after an offense gains a first down except inside two minutes of a half. Under the old rule, the game clock stopped when a team gained a first down, and the clock restarted when the offense was awarded the first down.

 

[GAVol]

Nope, you are basically right. This has Saban's DNA all over it. Had this rule been in place last year, we would not have been able to kick the winning field goal. They wouldn't have even had time to call a timeout.

Nope . . . Under 2:00 to go in each half, the old rule is in effect. We would have been able to play it the exact same way against Bama.

 

[VolsnRavens]

I actually think it will benefit teams like Tennessee at first. Our players are already used to getting to the line as quick as possible on first downs, (every down), so I believe it actually will put more pressure on the defenses we play as they will be getting even less of a rest break. JMHO.

 

[GAVol]

Claim is it will shorten the game. The truth is that it will keep the game length the same but allow for 10 to 15 more commercials

Still the same number of timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime. In fact, there might even be a commercial break or two LESS due to 1 or 2 less possession changes. It'll probably end up about the same though.

 

[JohnWardForever]

If you watch carefully, this rule only runs about 5 secs off the clock on each 1st down. It's not a big deal

Then why change it? I think you are mistaken. If the first down occurs 30 yards downfield it will take the Refs more than 5 seconds to spot the ball. And we know they sometimes look at each other to determine who had the best angle on many spots. They will be eating clock, and unconcerned.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Not sure how that would happen. Still the same number of timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime. In fact, there might even be a commercial break or two LESS due to 1 or 2 less possession changes.

LESS Commercial breaks? Now I know you don't know.

 

[Sea Ray]

Then why change it? I think you are mistaken. If the first down occurs 30 yards downfield it will take the Refs more than 5 seconds to spot the ball. And we know they sometimes look at each other to determine who had the best angle on many spots. They will be eating clock, and unconcerned.

On the occasional 30 yard 1st down, yeah it'll be more than 5 secs but most are only about 5 secs. Personally I'm fine with 3 hr 45 min games. I love college football. Why would I want to cut it short? But the powers that be want it shorter. I don't want shortening methods to cost us plays. That just cheapens the game