In an effort to improve player safety, the NCAA announced a major rule change Friday that will allow teams to call for a fair catch on kickoffs within the field of play inside their own 25-yard line.
The team that makes the fair catch will get the football on their own 25-yard line, regardless of where the ball was hauled in, essentially making it a touchback.
The new rule will come into effect for the 2018 season.
Previous studies have shown that a troubling number of injuries, particularly concussions, take place during collisions on kickoff returns.
In 2012, kickoffs were moved up 5 yards to the 35-yard line, and touchbacks were moved up 5 yards to the 25-yard line in an attempt to limit the number of returns and subsequent injuries that take place during the play.
In another rule amendment, offensive players will not be allowed to block below the waist when the block occurs more than five yards past the line of scrimmage.
