Rule Changes for the 2015 Season

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- An eight-person officiating system will be allowed if a conference or school chooses. A center judge was used experimentally in several conferences during the past two seasons.
- A 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul will be called on players who push or pull opponents off piles. This usually occurred in the past after fumbles.
- If a helmet comes off a defensive player in the final minute of a half, 10 seconds will be run off the game clock and the play clock will be set at 40 seconds. Previously, the play clock was set to 25 seconds. There were a few situations near the end of a half where the offense had to snap the ball one more time when they were trying to run out the clock. So now the play clock is set to 40 seconds when a defensive player loses his helmet, and still to 25 seconds when it is a player on offense. This is also consistent with the rule for stopping the game due to an injured player.
- Officials will return to giving teams an initial sideline warning when their personnel move out of the designated team bench area.
- Officials will treat illegal equipment issues -- such as jerseys tucked under the shoulder pads or exposed back pads -- by making the player leave the field for at least one play. The equipment must be corrected for the player to return to the game. The player may remain in the game if his team takes a timeout to correct the equipment issue.
- Instant replay reviews will be allowed to see if a kicking team player blocked the receiving team before the ball traveled 10 yards on onside-kick plays.
- Teams must be provided at least 22 minutes prior to kickoff for pregame warm-ups. Teams may mutually agree to shorten this time period.
- If the play clock runs to 25 seconds before the ball is ready for play, officials will reset the clock to 40 seconds. Previously, the play clock was reset when it reached 20 seconds.
- Non-standard/overbuilt face masks are prohibited.

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