Cumberland Times-News
·Aug 2026
College football rule changes include removing next-game DQs for a first targeting penalty
College football rule changes for the 2026 season will remove the automatic first-half suspension in the next game for a player's first targeting penalty of the season, including penalties assessed in either half. A second targeting offense will still require the player to miss the first half of the next game, while a third will result in a full-game suspension. Other changes include reducing offensive pass interference from 15 yards to 10, introducing the fair-catch kick, expanding coach's challenges, allowing helmet communication across all NCAA divisions, and penalizing certain unsportsmanlike conduct more strictly.