NCAA Rundown

Here’s a roundup of some of the most significant recent NCAA rule and policy changes (2024–2025) + proposals. If you want updates for a particular sport (e.g. football, basketball, track & field) or division (I, II, III), I can zero in further.

Major Structural / Policy Changes

House v. NCAA Settlement & Athlete Compensation

• A $2.8 billion settlement in the House v. NCAA case was approved in June 2025. (ESPN.com)

• As part of that, Division I schools that opt in may:  • Make direct payments to student-athletes (in addition to scholarships) up to a per-school cap of $20.5 million starting July 1, 2025. (ESPN.com)  • Eliminate sport-by-sport scholarship limits — roster and scholarship constraints are now more flexible. (CBSSports.com)

• Schools had a deadline to opt in by June 2025. (ESPN.com)

• Not all schools are required to adopt the new system; institutions that opt out are not bound by the new roster/scholarship rules. (Honest Game)

• NIL recruiting restrictions have been struck down (or are being phased out) — athletes may negotiate NIL deals during recruitment/enrollment. (AP News)

Sport-Specific / Playing Rule Updates

Football (College Football / NCAA)

Some of the key changes for the 2025 season include:

• Fake injury crackdown: If medical staff enter the field for a player after the ball is spotted, the offending team is charged with a timeout (or, if they have no timeouts, a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty). (NBC)

• Unsportsmanlike conduct for “brandishing a weapon” gestures (like pretending to fire a gun) now draws a 15-yard penalty. (CBSSports.com)

• Overtime timeout limits: In third and later overtime periods, teams may be limited to one timeout (rather than one per OT period). (NBC)

• In-helmet radio communications now permitted in FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) play (they were already allowed in FBS). (NBC)

• Terminology restrictions: The offense may no longer use “move” or “stem” as cadence terms (these are reserved for defense). (National Football Foundation)

• Defensive players on field limit: No more than 11 defenders at the time of snap; having 12+ on field is a live-ball penalty. (National Football Foundation)

These were part of the rule changes approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee in April 2025. (Wikipedia)

Men’s Basketball (NCAA)

For the 2025-26 season, several rule changes designed to improve game flow were approved:

• Introducing a coach’s challenge: coaches can challenge calls for out-of-bounds, basket interference/goaltending, and restricted-area violations, as long as they have a timeout. (NCAA.org)  • If challenge is successful, the team gets one additional challenge for the rest of the game (including overtime). (NCAA.org)  • If unsuccessful, the team loses the right to challenge further. (NCAA.org)  • Officials may initiate video reviews on basket interference/goaltending or restricted-arc calls in the last two minutes or overtime. (NCAA.org)

• Continuous motion / foul continuation rule: If an offensive player is moving toward the basket and is stopped by contact, he may pivot or complete the step he is on and finish the attempt. This allows more “and-1” opportunities. (NCAA.org)

• Flagrant 1 fouls: Officials now can use a “Flagrant 1” designation when contact is to the groin (yielding two free throws + possession). (NCAA.org)

• If shot clock malfunctions: If one shot clock fails, the shot clock on the other end stays active. (Wikipedia)

• Bench interference: If bench personnel physically assist a player (e.g. push or help keep inbounds) that may be penalized. (Wikipedia)

• Neither men’s nor women’s games can have continuous motion violations called in a way that impedes flow; points of emphasis include limiting physicality, reducing monitor delay, and speeding game administration. (NCAA.org)

• In women’s basketball, challenges differ: coaches can challenge out-of-bounds, backcourt, change of possession, and correct foul assignment. Unlike men’s, challenges do not require a timeout; an unsuccessful challenge results in a technical foul (excessive timeout). (The Salt Lake Tribune)

The Rules Oversight Panel and Men’s Basketball Rules Committee approved these changes on June 10, 2025. (NCAA.org)

Other Sports / Miscellaneous Changes

• Baseball: A starting pitcher ejected will now serve a 4-game suspension; a relief pitcher ejected gets a 2-game suspension. (NCAA)

• Roster / scholarship rules: As of July 1, 2025, schools adopting the settlement are no longer bound by “head count” scholarship limits. (Honest Game)

• Transfer rules (especially for football): The NCAA Administrative Committee approved a proposal to eliminate the spring transfer portal window, consolidating the window structure. (CBSSports.com)

• Sports betting proposal: The DI Council has proposed changes allowing betting on professional sports (but not college sports), while maintaining prohibitions on sharing inside info about NCAA events or athletes. (NCAA.org)

• Women’s wrestling: The NCAA has added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, with the first NCAA championship scheduled for 2026. (AP News)

• Emerging sports: The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics has recommended adding women’s flag football as an “emerging sport” across all divisions (pending votes). (Wikipedia)