NCAA approves multiple major rule changes in men's college basketball

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved proposed changes that are expected to enhance the flow of men’s college basketball beginning in the 2025-26 season, according to a release Tuesday. Those changes include allowing coach’s challenges to review out-of-bounds calls and goaltending or basket interference, as well as modifications to the rule on continuous motion on shot attempts.

Regarding the proposed coach’s challenge, much like in college football, teams must have a timeout to request an instant replay review. If the challenge review is successful, teams will be granted an additional video review challenge for the remainder of the game, including overtime. If unsuccessful, the team loses the ability to challenge any other calls in the game.

Coach challenges will not impact an officials’ use of instant replay for timing mistakes, scoring errors, shot clock violations, 2-point vs. 3-point field goal attempts, flagrant fouls, etc.

Officials can initiate video reviews on basketbat interference/goaltending and restricted arc plays in the final two minutes of regulation and in overtime. The NCAA revealed recent data showed these sort of reviews caused “minimal game interruptions,” and the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee members beliee the coach’s challenge “will have a significant impact on the flow of the game.” NCAA officials aren’t allowed to conduct video review on out-of-bounds calls unless first prompted by a coach’s challenge.

Other enhancements approved Tuesday include new points of emphasis for officials to address delay-of-game tactics, limiting time at the review monitor, improving game efficiency and reducing physicality.

With regard to the changes to the continuous motion rule, an offensive player who ends his dribble going toward the basket and takes contact from a defensive player is now permitted to pivot or complete the step and finish the field goal attempt. Currently, players are awarded the basket/field goal only when they’re are fouled in the process of shooting the ball.

Last month, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee also recommended the creation of a joint working group to gather feedback from conferences on potentially moving from halves to quarters, though any potential changes to the game’s format won’t come until the next rules change year.

“In considering the decisions last month, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee had conversations about ways to continue this direction in the upcoming years, which includes positive momentum for moving the men’s game from halves to quarters,” the NCAA release said Tuesday. “The committee realizes there are hurdles to implementing the quarter format to the game, including the structuring of media timeouts to accommodate commercial inventory. The committee recommended NCAA Division I conferences create a joint working group to provide feedback on the potential change from halves to quarters.”

Officials will now the the option to call a Flagrant 1 foul whenever a player makes contact with another player’s groin area. Previously officials could only call a common foul or a Flagrant 2, leading to an ejection for the offending player.

Other rules changes included involve a player using the rim to gain an advantage will be now called basket interference, and if one shot clock becomes inoperable, the other shot clock can be utilized. Previously, if one shot clock wasn’t working, both had to be turned off.