2005 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season - 2005 Rule Changes

2005 Rule Changes

• After the Big Ten Conference's 2004 experiment with instant replay, its' use was expanded to all but the Sun Belt and the WAC conferences in Division I-A. The rules varied between conferences (including the use of coaches' challenges similar to the NFL in the Mountain West Conference) until the NCAA standardized the rules in 2006. Replay was not permitted in bowl games, including the 2006 Rose Bowl, however replay was permitted in inter-sectional regular season games, provided the visiting team agreed to its' use.
• The protection for a receiver who signals a fair catch includes situations when the ball is muffed until it hits the ground.
• Penalties for spearing or similar hits in which the tackler leads with the crown of the head are enforced regardless of the "intent" of the tackler.
• The penalty for leaping on field goals/PATs now states it is a foul if a player lined up more than one yard behind the line of scrimmage jumps and lands on players of any team trying to block the kick. If lined up one yard or closer to the line, it is not a foul.
• Eliminated the "legal clipping zone"; hits from behind below the knee are prohibited anywhere on the field.
• Expanded the list of acts considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

These acts include:

• Simulated throat-slashing and gun-firing
• Bowing at the waist
• Chest-pounding and crossing hands in front of the chest
• High-stepping into the end zone
• Spinning the ball like a top
• Taunting by standing over an opposing player
• Diving into the end zone unchallenged
• Placing a hand on the ear simulating not being able to hear the crowd
• Jumping into the crowd
• Choreographed celebrations with teammates.

Non-choreographed or spontaneous celebrations after a score or a play are permitted provided the player(s) are not bringing attention to themselves.