Most of this year’s rule changes are in replay

Of the changes to the rules this season, the bulk were related to replay functions. Here is a summary of the replay rule changes in 2024.

Bonus with 1 successful challenge

Most notably, coaches will be able to gain a third challenge if either of their first two challenges are successful, rather than requiring both to succeed. This has been proposed at least 8 times in recent years, and it is unusual that it finally broke through. In reality, with so many key parts of the game only under booth review — inside the 2-minute warning, in overtime, scores, and turnovers — and the ability for the replay booth to assist on quick corrections, coaches are not likely to get to the third challenge. But if a coach fails on an iffy call from replay, he does have the flexibility to not necessarily hold that other challenge for the late stages of the game, but still needs to be judicious in using it. Similarly, a coach that succeeds on a challenge may be inclined to challenge a close call, knowing that there is guaranteed to be one in the bank.

There is no provision for a fourth challenge, and under the old system no coach was ever right on three challenges in a game.

Did the snap come before :00?

The expiration of the quarter is now subject to a replay review to determine if a snap was in time. This only works in one direction: nullifying a play where the snap was late. This applies to the 1st/3rd quarters and the end of the half, although there are two different replay rules at those times. For the few times that the first or third quarter becomes a tight call, the replay official is allowed to jump in as an “assist” to make an obvious correction. If it so close that they are rolling frames, then a coach would have to use a challenge (unless there is also a score or turnover on the play).

This will more often be implemented in the time-critical crunch at the end of the half, when it would be a booth review anyway. If the ball starts to move, even slightly, or if it is possible the center just started the snapping motion, the play will stand. This will not be applied to a snap against the 2-minute warning, and the play clock is not reviewable.

Keep in mind that any unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness fouls that occur on the play are still enforced, even if the snap was late. Those fouls are never wiped out by a replay reversal.

Reviewable penalties, in certain situations

Penalties are not reviewable, except for the presence of 12 players on the field. Other reviewable elements can add a foul or take one away, such as elements that govern lines or whether the ball was touched, in addition to correcting the spot of a foul. In 2023, the replay official was able to assist intentional grounding calls on whether the ball reached the line of scrimmage or if the passer was in the pocket, but only if a flag is thrown first.

The pocket aspect as well as whether the passer was facing an imminent loss of yardage before the throw is now reviewable. If the passer is out of the pocket, the ball only has to reach the line of scrimmage to be legal, even if there is no receiver in the area. If there is no imminent threat of a sack, there cannot be a grounding penalty.

Another aspect will allow for a roughing the passer call to be reviewable if the roughing call involves contact to the head or neck area. The replay official can only make a determination if contact was made to the head or neck, but no other elements are reviewable. This is intended to capture situations where a quarterback is contacted legally, but his head jolts as if he was hit there, and the body contact is out of the referee’s sightline. It does not apply to any other head contact, nor does it apply if the quarterback is a runner. (The replay command center does have the authority to eject players who have committed a flagrant foul.)

The other reviewable penalty is whether a runner is out of bounds when contacted and the defense is flagged for a late hit. If the replay official shows that the contact occurred prior to the runner touching out of bounds, this can be reversed to no foul.

In all of these new penalty situations, it is to pick up a flag that is on the field, not to put one down. If any of these elements is clearly observable without having to shuttle the replay multiple times, the replay official can just inform the referee to pick up the flag. If it is anything that requires closer analysis, it must be a coach’s challenge, or a booth review if it is a inside the two minute warning, if it is a scoring play or turnover (including if the penalty would nullify the score or turnover).

Dead-ball passes are reviewable

Previously, only fumbles could carry over a whistle to a recovery that would ordinarily be a dead ball.

If a passer has been ruled to have either stepped out of bounds or was down by contact prior to the throw, replay can review if the pass was released prior to the ball being declared dead. In this case, replay can only take the pass to its conclusion: incomplete, complete, or intercepted. If the ball is caught, replay would award possession at the spot of the catch, but no other action (including a fumble) would be considered. If such a pass is incomplete, this would have the practical effect of reversing the loss of yardage.

In the case that the pass is originally ruled dead, an interception is not a booth review. Since the ruling on the field is a dead ball, the coach of the defense would have to challenge (unless inside the 2-minute warning) because the interception would only exist in review. This is in contrast to a live-ball interception that is nullified by penalty, which is a booth review.