So the NCAA has approved some rule changes for 2012.

Firstly, they have taken from the NFL's lead and moved the kickoff 5 yards closer to the 35. However, they've taken it one further by making it so Touchback's come out to the 25. This of course is a move for player safety, as Kickoffs have some of the worst hits, but it will make that kicker who can angle the ball's trajectory to land at the 1 very important, as opposed to the Brotzman type kicker who booms it out of the end zone.

Secondly, any player who loses their helmet during the course of a play, must sit out the next play. Similar to when an injured player requires attention from the sideline. I'm of two minds about this one. First I love that they are doing something that will hopefully make these players strap their damn helmets on correctly. I get so tired of seeing a helmet fly off every other players, because the players don't want to strap them up correctly. Just look at Riley Nelson down south, who it seemed was having his helmet pop off two to three times a game.

Now my worry is the caveat about if it comes off as part of a foul. There are plenty of times where a helmet gets ripped off and it should be a foul. Just ask Juan Blanco during the Bowl game, where his helmet got ripped off, but now penalty was called. Under this situation, he'd miss the next play, which if it's an important third down play could be troublesome. Or imagine in the scenario above with Riley Nelson. That means TDS would have had to put Heaps in for a play, almost a guaranteed incomplete/turnover there. But moreso, I wonder about the line play, when there's a lot of hands to the face that goes unseen.

There were some other rule changes, like preventing a player from leaping over blockers when trying to block punts.