College football changes targeting penalties and officiating rules for 2026
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 11, 2026, 7:31 PM
Last updated Aug 11, 2026
The National Football Foundation announced new rules for college football starting in 2026. Targeting penalties in the second half will no longer require players to miss the first half of the next game, while offensive pass interference will now be a 10-yard penalty. A fair catch kick will be introduced to align college rules with the NFL, allowing teams to attempt a kick for three points after a fair catch. Other changes include two replay challenges for coaches per game and a standardized rule for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. These measures aim to improve player safety and game officiating.
- •Targeting penalty rule change is experimental for 2026.
- •Offensive pass interference reduced to a 10-yard penalty.
- •Teams can execute fair catch kicks for points after a fair catch.
- •Coaches receive two replay challenges per game.
- •New unsportsmanlike conduct penalties outlined for specific actions.
- 7:31 PMYahoo Sports — College football rule changes include removing next-game DQs for a first targeting penalty
"Targeting penalties assessed in the second half of a game will no longer require the offending player to sit out the first half of his team's next game, offensive pass interference will become a 10-yard penalty and the little-used fair catch kick will be introduced to college football. The targeting penalty change will be an experimental rule for 2026. A player disqualified for targeting for the first time in the season may participate in the following game.
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