- The hash marks are in different places. For college football the hash marks are 60 feet from the sideline and for the pros they are 70 feet 9 inches from the sideline. They look different because the pro hash marks are closer together in the middle of the field than the college hash marks are.
- The NFL limits teams to 53 players.
- In NCAA football, the defense can return a failed conversion attempt for 2 points.
- In NCAA football, the game clock stops after a successful first down conversion; starting again after the officials have set the football. In the NFL this clock stoppage does not take place.
- The NFL uses a "sudden death" overtime system. This means that the first team to score any points during overtime will win upon scoring. In NCAA football, each team is given an opportunity to score, with the game continuing on as long as the score remains tied.
- In the NFL, teams receive 40 seconds in-between plays. In NCAA football the time limit is 25 seconds, beginning when the official rules the ball "ready to play".
- In NCAA football the point after touchdown is attempted from the 3 yard-line. In the NFL it's attempted from the 2 yard-line.
- NFL has a salary cap and college players can't get paid (so they say…).
- College players can force someone out of bounds to void a catch.
- No touch from opposing team needed when you are down in college games.
- The clock stops after a 1st down in college until the refs move the chains, spot the ball and signal for time to begin again.
- In NCAA football replay, officials can review every play vs. the NFL where it is done only in the last 2 minutes.
- In the NFL, each team is given two instant replay challenges; while in NCAA football each coach only gets one.
- 1 foot (in NCAA football) vs. 2 feet (in the NFL) must be inbounds to be ruled a catch. In the NFL, a player who is receiving a pass must do several things before they establish possession of the football. They need to get two feet down inbounds and continue throughout the process to retain a firm, controlled grasp of the football. College players need to do far less to establish possession. All they need to do is to get 1 foot down inbounds and retain a grasp on the football.
- NFL clock restarts after out of bounds for most of the game.
- Pass interference in the NFL is at the spot of the foul or 1 yard line if in the end zone while it is a 15 yard penalty in college.
- NFL allows teams to handle balls prior to game (except kicking balls) college requires new balls each game (no professional emblems on the balls allowed in college).
- There is no 2 minute warning in college.
- Kickoff penalties are different.
- Goal posts on the field are different.
- The NFL has "Playoffs" vs. college football having "Bowl Games". In the NFL, the post-season winner is decided by a standard bracket playoff system, similar to the one in place in most other professional sports leagues. NCAA football utilizes a voting system to assign teams to "bowl games," which are the only post-season matches played each year. This eventually culminates in a national champion being selected.
I am sure there are many more but as you can see, it really is a different set of rules. This is another reason the transition from college football can be a bit difficult to adapt from a rookie perspective.
One aspect that is NOT DIFFERENT between a NCAA football game and an NFL game is the excitement! A college football game can be just as exciting (if not more so at times) than an NFL game. Check out one of the most memorable plays from this seasons match up between Texas Tech vs. Texas. A not-so-small rivalry game that ended in such a BIG way! Have you ever heard of Michael Crabtree? If not, you can say you know exactly who he is after watching this clip. Enjoy~
Peace,
Love &
the BCS,
-C
P.S. If you'd like to view the above video in high def, you can do so at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaN_ce47MOY. Click on "watch in high quality" right below the volume control on the youtube screen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment