Beginning in the 2025-26 college basketball season, teams can now challenge certain calls on the court, much like what you see in professional leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Unlike in past years, when only referees could trigger a review in special situations, coaches can now request an official review.
How Do the New College Basketball Challenges Work?
A head coach is allowed one challenge per game, and to use it, the team must have a timeout available. If the challenge is successful, the team keeps its timeout and gets one more chance to challenge a call during the same game. If the call stands, the challenge is used up, and the team loses its timeout. This brings a new strategic layer to game management.
Here’s what can be challenged: out-of-bounds decisions, basket interference or goaltending, and whether a defender was inside the restricted-area arc. Interestingly, in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime, officials can still review goaltending and restricted area situations, but only coaches can prompt an out-of-bounds review.
Regular fouls remain off-limits for challenge. The one exception is when questioning if a defender was inside the restricted-area circle during a potential charging foul. Coaches can request a check to see if the defender’s feet were in the circle, which can turn a charge into a blocking foul if the review confirms it.
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This update reflects the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to leverage technology for more accurate and fair decision-making, enhancing both the strategy and pace of the college game.
In its release discussing the rule changes, the NCAA said the rules committee has also had conversations that included “positive momentum for moving to quarters,” but acknowledged there are “hurdles” when it comes to media timeouts and having enough time allotted for commercials.
Another rule change this year in the men’s game: Officials will now have the option to issue a Flagrant 1 foul when a player is fouled with contact to the groin. Previously, any contact to the groin area considered not incidental was automatically issued a Flagrant 2 foul.
Challenges, new foul rules, and a potential move to quarters are just some of the elements coming to CBB that could fundamentally change the way the sport is played.