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College Football Rule Changes: Quicker Replays, Zeros on Jerseys and Social Distancing

Marianna Massey/2020 Getty Images

College football is supposed to return in force this month, with the first Football Bowl Subdivision games scheduled for Thursday. If it does — with stadiums enforcing social distancing, players and coaches in masks on the sidelines and tailgating banned on many campuses — the sport’s rules will be a little different.

We spoke with Steve Shaw, the N.C.A.A.’s national coordinator of football officials, and Greg Burks, the coordinator of football officials for the Big 12 Conference, about the new rules for 2020.

The pandemic prompted limited changes to the rules themselves.