CBB Rule Change Proposals Include Coach's Challenges, Switch from Halves to Quarters

NCAA rulemakers will discuss several potential changes to men's college basketball ahead of the 2025-26 season, including limitations on coach's challenges and potentially playing halves rather than quarters.

These changes were among those proposed this week by the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee during a meeting in Indianapolis, according to NCAA Associate Director of Communications Greg Johnson.

Any rule changes must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is set to discuss basketball rules on June 10, according to Johnson.

There was "positive momentum" during the meeting for moving men's college basketball games from quarters to halves, per Johnson.

One obstacle to making the change would be adjusting media timeouts and commercials to fit the new game structure.

According to Johnson, the committee recommended D-I conferences form a working group to present feedback on moving from quarters to halves by the time rule changes are discussed ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Another rule being proposed involved coaching challenges, which men's basketball rules committee chair Karl Hicks said was part of a focus on improving "the flow of the game," particularly regarding out-of-bounds calls.

The new rule would require teams to have a timeout before requesting an instant video review of a call.

If the challenge is successful, teams would be granted another challenge. If not, teams would be barred from challenges for the remainder of the game.

Under the proposal, officials would be allowed to use video review on calls regarding basket interference and plays in the restricted area late in a game (last two minutes or overtime.) They could not use video review on out-of-bounds calls unless a coach challenges the call.

Johnson notes that the change would not impact officials' ability to use video review on other calls.

Other men's basketball rule changes being discussed include allowing fouled offensive players to complete their step and finish their shot attempt after the foul. Players can currently only record a basket if fouled while shooting.

Additional proposed rule changes including giving officials the chance to call a Flagrant 1 foul, increased from a Flagrant 2, when a player is hit in the groin; calling a basket interference violation on a player who "uses the rim to gain an advantage" and keeping one shot clock turned on if the other stops working.