Football is ever-changing as the powers that be add new rules for the upcoming season, trying to perfect the game. They'll often make changes based on situations from the previous season.
The NCAA banned fake quarterback slides in 2021 after Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett pulled one off in the ACC Championship Game. This season, one of 14 rule changes will officially add the informal “T” hand signal on kicks—which tells the receiving team the returner has no intention of catching the ball—to the rulebook.
The move comes after last season’s Citrus Bowl, when South Carolina faked the signal to gain an edge against Illinois. A few plays later, former Razorback and current Illini head coach Bret Bielema mimicked the gesture toward Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer while checking on an injured player near USC’s sideline; a jab that sparked a social media feud for days after the game.
The NCAA cited safety when implementing both of these rules, but, funny enough, this play below, which is arguably the most dangerous of the three situations, is still completely legal.
September 15, 2018: North Texas scores a TD on a 90-yard fake fair catch punt return during a 44-17 win at Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/BFwLRwtLwN
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) September 15, 2022
At the same time, the NCAA must address teams that abuse the increase in safety rules. Famously, teams like Ole Miss have faked injuries to slow down opposing offenses. Starting this season, "injuries" that happen after the ball is spotted by the referee but before the snap will be penalized by either forcing the injured players team to burn a timeout or incur a 5-yard delay of game penalty if that team doesn't have any timeouts left.
New rule changes heading into the 2025-26 college football season
"T" Signal on Kicks
"Any waving signal by any player of a return team is considered an invalid signal. The "T" signal given by a returner during any kick will now also be considered an invalid signal and will deprive the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. This signal evolved as a signal to alert teammates that a kick returner was not going to return the kick. Now, after a "T" signal on kicks, there will be no return."
Feigning Injuries
"To combat the practice of feigning injuries, the rules committee passed a rule that if a player presents as injured after the ball is spotted by officials, that team will be charged a Team Timeout or a delay penalty if all timeouts have been used. That player must remain out of the game for at least one down, even if that team is granted a team timeout and may not return to the game until receiving approval of professional medical personnel designated by their institution."
Team Pre-Snap Movement
"Any defensive team player within one yard of the line of scrimmage (stationary or not) may not make quick and abrupt or exaggerated actions that simulate action at the snap and are not part of normal defensive player movement in an obvious attempt to make the offense foul. This will continue as a point of emphasis in the game. The offense will be held to the same standard as any pre-snap movement that simulates action at the snap is a foul on the offense for a false start."
Disconcerting Signals
"No player shall use words or signals that disconcert opponents when they are preparing to put the ball in play. No player may call defensive signals that simulate the sound or cadence of, or otherwise interfere with, offensive starting signals. New for 2025, the terms "move" and "stem" are reserved for defensive cadence and may not be used by the offense. The offense may use a "clap" as a starting signal and this signal may not be used by the defense."
Substitution Fouls by the Defense after the Two-Minute Timeout
"The defense may not have more than 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped. The infraction, a substitution foul, is treated as a live-ball foul and is a 5-yard penalty. If this action occurs after the Two-Minute Timeout in either half, and 12 or more defenders are on the field and participate in the down, officials will penalize the defense for the foul and the offense will have the option to reset the game clock back to the time displayed at the snap. The game clock will then restart on the next snap."
For the rest of the rule changes, check out the entire press release here.
Follow Razorbackers on Twitter (X) & Facebook, and avoid missing out on the latest Arkansas news by signing up for our daily FanSided news letter and selecting Arkansas football and/or basketball!