Changes in NCAA Basketball Rules

The final moments of a college basketball game can feel drawn out, sometimes lasting what seems like an eternity—20 minutes can stretch on, and that’s if luck is on our side.

Recently, the NCAA Play Rules Surveillance Panel approved some changes aimed at enhancing the pace of the game for men’s college basketball, set to take effect in the 2025-26 season. One of the most significant modifications is the removal of replay reviews for out-of-bounds or goaltending calls during the last two minutes.

Instead of relying on reviews, coaches will be able to challenge certain calls, including goaltending and basket interference, within that crucial time frame. Each coach will have one challenge they can use until they face a failed attempt.

In the past, coaches could demand reviews for out-of-bounds calls in those closing moments, leading to complaints that they were manipulating the system to gain additional timeouts. This also meant that clear calls, made correctly in real-time, could be subject to review, causing confusion and dragging out what should be a two-hour game.

To further streamline game flow from the 2025-26 season onwards, there are plans to tackle game delay tactics, minimize time spent reviewing, enhance overall efficiency, and decrease physical confrontations on the court.

As for the boys’ game catching up to the girls’ and transitioning from halves to quarters? Well, that’s still a work in progress… for now.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee discussed last month’s decisions and how to maintain momentum in the coming years. They acknowledged the challenges related to implementing a quarter-based format, particularly due to the structure of media timeouts needed for commercial purposes.

Other significant rule changes introduced include:

• The ability for officials to call a Flagrant 1 foul if a player is contacted inappropriately. This foul results in two free throws and possession for the offended team. Previously, officials could only call a general foul or escalate it to a Flagrant 2 foul, which led to player ejections and the same consequences for the offended team.
• A player using the rim to gain an advantage will now be considered a basket interference violation.
• If one shot clock fails, the other basket’s clock will remain operational. Previously, the game was halted until both clocks were working properly.