Instant Replay: How the Process Works

Periodically, Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of College Football Officiating, will provide insights about rules changes and the mindset of college football referees. The CFO is the national professional organization for all football officials who work games at the collegiate level.

In our last column we discussed the people involved in Instant Replay for college football. Today we see how the review process works.

The game may be interrupted for review in two ways: by the Instant Replay Official (IRO) or through a challenge by one of the head coaches. The instant replay personnel are reviewing every play to determine if the IRO should stop the game for further review. To be reviewed further, a play must satisfy three criteria: it is reviewable by rule, as explained in last week's Chalk Talk; there is reason to believe the ruling on the field is in error; and the review outcome would have a competitive impact on the game.

To stop the game, before the next play the IRO buzzes the game officials with pagers. The Referee then announces the ruling on the field and says that the play is under further review. The IRO and the Communicator then review the play using television replays. The fundamental assumption is that the ruling on the field is correct and it may be overturned only if the IRO has indisputable video evidence that the ruling is incorrect. The ruling is confirmed when it is clearly supported by video. In the absence of such video evidence the ruling on the field is allowed to stand.

Upon completing his review, the IRO communicates his decision to the Referee who then announces one of three possibilities: the ruling on the field is allowed to stand, is confirmed, or is reversed. If the ruling is reversed the Referee gives a brief explanation of the IRO's decision.

Each head coach has one challenge to contest a reviewable ruling on the field, as long as he has a team timeout. If the challenge is successful the coach keeps his timeout and also may challenge one more play during the game. The team has used its timeout if the challenge is not successful.