College Football Officials Expected to Discuss Rule Change to Add 2-Minute Warning

College football may have an opportunity to add more commercials to game broadcasts in the near future.

Chris Vannini of The Athletic reported officials from the sport will debate the idea of adding a two-minute warning when they gather for a rules committee meeting at the end of February. Such a move would be another step toward bringing the clock rules in line with those in the NFL and provide another potential commercial break.

College football changed some of its clock rules last year and only stopped the clock after first downs in the final two minutes of the first half and game. It also banned back-to-back timeouts by the same team and moved any untimed downs from the first or third quarters into the ensuing quarters.

NCAA national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw told Vannini such changes led to approximately 4.5 fewer plays per game and shortened games by an average of around four real-time minutes.

Yet implementing a two-minute warning would increase game time and likely lead to more plays, undercutting some of the impact from last year's changes.

Shaw countered that by saying it could take the place of a commercial break that was already in place such as when there are consecutive stoppages after a touchdown and again after the ensuing kickoff.

"We'd really like to avoid the back-to-backs," Shaw said. "Nobody likes that. If we did it, the media partner would have to hold their last timeout to that, so they couldn't get their timeouts in and then get a freebie. It would be the last media timeout and give them assurance they'll get them all in. I think TV would be supportive of it."

Vannini cautioned that just because there are discussions does not automatically mean there will be a two-minute warning in college football in 2024. After all, it remains to be seen how much support there will actually be, and it is something the sport's officials could also table for future rule changes.

While the television aspect of it will surely drive discussions, there is also the reality it could add some on-field drama during close games.

An additional timeout would give trailing teams more opportunity for a late comeback, which could, in theory, keep even more fans tuned in through the final play.

It is a change that fans are not necessarily clamoring for, but it is also something football fans are accustomed to from the NFL level. And it would be yet another change bringing the college game more in line with the professional one from a clock standpoint.