College football adopts new targeting, pass interference and fair catch kick rules for 2026

The National Football Foundation released its annual rule-change summary for the 2026 college football season, outlining a suite of modifications. Targeting penalties will be experimental: a player cited for targeting for the first time may play in the following game, but a second citation still mandates sitting out the first half, and a third forces a full-game ejection, with conferences allowed to appeal after a second offense.

Offensive pass interference will be penalized by a ten-yard loss instead of fifteen, while defensive interference stays a spot foul capped at fifteen yards. A fair-catch kick will be added, allowing teams to attempt a three-point place or drop kick from the catch location, provided the defense lines up at least ten yards away. The rulebook also adds automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for specific actions, grants head coaches two replay challenges per game with a possible third if one succeeds, and permits helmet-to-player communication across all divisions. Uniform regulations now allow up to two sponsor patches on jerseys and a limited logo on helmets.