A New Era Begins: Coach’s Challenges and Continuation Fouls Set to Shake Up College Basketball

A New Era Begins: NCAA Unveils Major Rule Changes Set to Transform College Basketball in 2025-26

College basketball is on the brink of one of its most significant transformations in recent memory. As the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel officially announced a series of sweeping rule changes for the 2025-26 season, the game fans have come to know and love is preparing to enter a bold new era — one designed to improve game flow, enhance fairness, and keep up with the ever-evolving dynamics of modern basketball.

At the center of these rule changes is the introduction of one of the most talked-about innovations in sports officiating: the coach’s challenge. For the first time in NCAA men’s basketball history, head coaches will now have the power to challenge specific calls during live games. The new rule allows coaches to initiate a challenge at any point in the game to review out-of-bounds calls, basket interference/goaltending situations, and whether a secondary defender was in the restricted area arc.

But there’s a strategic twist. Teams must have a timeout available to request a challenge, adding a layer of decision-making that could impact late-game situations. If the initial challenge is successful, the team earns one additional video review challenge for the remainder of the game, including overtime. However, if the first challenge fails, the team forfeits any further opportunities to challenge for the rest of the contest.

This move is expected to not only increase fairness but also maintain the integrity of the game during high-pressure moments, particularly when critical calls could potentially determine outcomes. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee believes the coach’s challenge could become one of the most significant additions to college basketball officiating in years.

In conjunction with the coach’s challenge, officials themselves will still have the ability to initiate reviews for basket interference, goaltending, and restricted area plays within the final two minutes of regulation and overtime. Recent data has shown that these reviews cause minimal interruptions, allowing the committee to confidently add the coach’s challenge without fearing extended game delays.

However, it’s not just about instant replay. The NCAA is also addressing the flow and pace of the game, areas that have long drawn criticism from fans, players, and coaches alike. Officials will now receive clear directives aimed at cracking down on delay-of-game tactics, minimizing time spent at the monitor, improving game administration efficiency, and reducing excessive physicality. These efforts are designed to keep the action moving while maintaining consistency and fairness throughout every contest.

One of the more technical, but impactful, rule modifications comes to the longstanding continuous motion rule. Under the new guidelines, an offensive player who has ended his dribble while driving to the basket — and absorbs defensive contact — will now be allowed to complete the step they are on or pivot to finish the shot. Previously, players were only credited with field goal attempts when fouled while actively shooting the ball. This subtle yet meaningful change could lead to more scoring opportunities and reduce confusion around what constitutes a shooting foul.

Another significant development is the NCAA’s decision to continue exploring the possibility of moving men’s college basketball from its traditional two 20-minute halves to four quarters, mirroring the format used in the women’s game and in most international competitions. While there are logistical and commercial hurdles — especially concerning how media timeouts and advertising inventory would be structured — the committee has recommended that Division I conferences form a joint working group to provide feedback ahead of the next rules-change year. This shift, if eventually adopted, could radically reshape how college basketball is played and consumed.

Beyond these headline changes, the NCAA also introduced several additional rule updates designed to tighten officiating and ensure greater player safety:

• Officials will now have the discretion to call a Flagrant 1 foul for contact to the groin area. Previously, such incidents were either ruled a common foul or a Flagrant 2, which resulted in immediate ejection. The new Flagrant 1 designation allows for a more measured response, awarding two free throws and possession to the offended team without automatically ejecting the offender.

• If a player uses the rim to gain an advantage, it will now be deemed basket interference — further clarifying the rules around rim usage.

• If one shot clock becomes inoperable during a game, the shot clock on the other basket will remain active, allowing the game to continue without a full stoppage. Under the old rule, both shot clocks were turned off until both were functional again.

These changes reflect an NCAA that is listening carefully to feedback from coaches, players, fans, and broadcasters — and taking bold steps to modernize the game while preserving its unique identity.

The 2025-26 college basketball season is shaping up to be more than just a battle for championships; it’s about adapting to a faster, fairer, and more fluid version of the sport that has captivated millions for generations. With the coach’s challenge now a reality, adjustments to continuous motion, and a possible future shift to quarters, fans can expect plenty of new storylines to follow when the ball tips off next season.

College basketball is changing. The only question now is which teams, players, and coaches will adapt the fastest — and who will rise to the occasion in this new era.