In February, a report surfaced from Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger of the NCAA considering four rule changes for the 2023 season intended to speed up the game.

One rule caught the ire of Division III coaches. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recommended continuing to run the clock after first downs except for inside of two minutes during either half.

Multiple coaches immediately sounded off on the impact the rule would have on the safety of players at the DIII level, where media timeouts are nonexistent and games already average a brisk two and a half to three hours.

The new timing rule was approved for Divisions I and II in April. Thursday, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel officially delayed the implementation of the new timing rule for DIII until 2024 at the earliest.

The delay allows the NCAA Football Rules Committee to conduct an impact study of the change at the DI and DII levels. It will consider any adjustments at its annual meeting, which is expected in February or March 2024.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel referred the new timing rule for Division III back to the rules committee after the Division III Management Council raised concerns about the new rule.

Division III coaches immediately reacted to the proposed rule change with concern for player safety.

“We already have more injuries at this level than I’ve seen at any other level I’ve coached, and I think we would see more injuries because of the physical nature of the game,” one coach noted.

“We have to look at player safety because this is a collision sport,” another coach added. “I’m afraid we’ll see more injuries because our guys won’t have much time between each series of downs.”

Many coaches said Division I already has some advantages over their DIII brethren due to the replay system and media timeouts.

“After a touchdown, we have 40 seconds to get guys on the field and kick the field goal or go for two while DI has to confirm with replay,” one coach said. “It gives them an advantage we don’t have at our level.”

“After a score, the Division I guys get a four-minute media timeout before kickoff,” another coach added. “We get 30 seconds, and you better be ready to roll, or the play clock will start.”

For now, the NCAA has listened to their concerns.