With a detailed presentation during SEC Media Days, the conference’s coordinator of football officials, John McDaid, outlined several rule changes that will take effect for the 2026 college football season.
The first two changes were relatively straightforward.
Offensive pass interference will now carry a 10-yard penalty instead of the previous 15-yard penalty.
The NCAA also adjusted its targeting suspension policy. Players who are disqualified for targeting will no longer automatically miss part of the following game unless they become repeat offenders.
McDaid explained that a first-time offender will be disqualified for the remainder of the game but will not face any additional suspension.
“If you are a first-time offender, second-time offender, or three-or-more offender, you’re disqualified for the remainder of the game,” he said. “You can stay on the sideline, enjoy the game with your team, but you can’t participate.”
Beginning with the second targeting ejection in the same season, additional penalties apply regardless of when the foul occurs during the game. A second offense requires the player to sit out the first half of the next game, while a third or subsequent offense results in a suspension for the entire following game.
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“This is an experimental rule,” McDaid said. “This will be revisited after the 2026 season to see how it went and see if we want to make it permanent or maybe extend it as an experimental rule for one more season in 2027.”
The final rule change involves a more technical adjustment to punt formations that McDaid said is intended to eliminate deceptive alignment tactics that have confused both opponents and game officials.
Under the new rule, teams using a numbering exception – meaning they do not have the required five linemen wearing jersey numbers 50-79 on the field – must align those players in a balanced “2-by-2” formation. Two players must line up on each side of the snapper, with all five players positioned inside the tackle box.
McDaid said the new rule was created in response to coaches using unusual formations that made it difficult for officials to identify eligible receivers and properly officiate the play.
“The million-dollar question is how many of the teams are going to do this. I don’t know the answer to that,” McDaid, who has served as the SEC’s coordinator of officials for nearly seven years, said. “In fact, I just programmed my officials last week during our clinic to ask that question of every team that they see in August when they go and work the scrimmages so I have a good idea of how many of the teams intend to do this when we get into Week 1.”
The rule changes, presented by McDaid on Tuesday during the second day of SEC Media Days in Tampa, will be closely watched throughout the 2026 season as officials and teams adjust to the new points of emphasis.