BYU Football will be allowed to use tablets on the sideline in 2024.
Sideline technology is making its way to college football. Starting in the 2024 season, teams will be permitted to use video playback on the sidelines and helmet communication with quarterbacks. These changes, which have been in place at the NFL level for the past few years, were tested during several bowl games last season.
BYU and all Big 12 schools will use Microsoft Surface tablets on the sidelines to review film. This means if a quarterback throws an interception or a defensive back misses an assignment, they can review the play immediately on the sideline. This practice, common in the NFL over recent years, particularly for quarterbacks, is now being adopted in college football.
Teams that effectively utilize the new technology will have a significant advantage in making in-game adjustments in 2024.
In addition to this, another major rule change is being introduced: direct helmet communication with the quarterback. Offensive coordinators will now be able to call plays directly to quarterbacks, who will then relay the information to the rest of the team. This change eliminates the need for hand signals and signs between plays. Consequently, we might see more teams huddling to prevent communication errors and reduce the risk of opponents stealing signals.
BYU, along with offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, has already implemented direct helmet communication during Spring camp.
