New clock rules
After 6 games it appears the new clock rules have had no affect on reducing offensive plays per game.
Teams have learned to adjust to the new rules to still get the same number of plays.
Ave. for all Div 1 teams:
2023 - 69.3
2022 - 70.7
Ave. for the top 20 offensive play teams:
2023 - 78.4
2022 - 78.2
https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/plays-per-game?date=2023-01-10
October 13th, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
My new clock has a charging pad on top. It definitely rules.
October 13th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
I bought a retro flip clock on eBay. It's the bomb.
October 13th, 2023 at 9:05 AM ^
How many more commercials per game? As many plays but actual game (playing FB televised) has gone down hasn't it? Every 30 seconds is another ad.
October 13th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Without drive data, it's pretty hard to compare. These numbers could mean that if the rules were the same, the number of plays this year would have been higher than last year.
October 13th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
There are way too many variables involved from one season to the next to be able to extrapolate any amount of difference in number of plays run per game as a consequence of the new clock rules. Although, having said that, it seems that Michigan and their deliberate, slow tempo style of play seems to be affected much more by it than an up-tempo, explosive play or nothing type team like USC, for example.
Also, having said the above, Michigan’s difference in number of plays per game (between 2022 and 2023) is also likely to be affected by their near total domination in the first halves this year as compared to last year’s closer games in the first halves. I don’t believe Michigan’s 10 play difference between last year and this year is even all or mostly due to the new clock changes.
October 13th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
Also, having said the above, Michigan’s difference in number of plays per game (between 2022 and 2023) is also likely to be affected by their near total domination in the first halves this year as compared to last year’s closer games in the first halves. I don’t believe Michigan’s 10 play difference between last year and this year is even all or mostly due to the new clock changes.
I agree that strong first halves have made a difference (games put away earlier), and I also think some of the difference comes from "weak" second halves this year, especially in the noncon. Last year, I seem to remember our second, third, etc. strings continuing to roll our noncon opponents after the starters were pulled, which is how we put up 50+ against all three of them. This year, even against the noncon opponents, our offense seemed to screech to halt once JJ went out. A lot of three and outs, really no long drives, etc. It certainly didn't seem like we had games where we played 100+ guys and 7 or 8 QBs. And averaging about 3 TDs fewer per game. That definitely has to have an impact...
October 13th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
The clock changes are definitely having an impact. The classic leisurely ground and pound drive Michigan loved to do last year took about 6:30. The same drive this year takes about 8:30. You can also see this in the possession counts per half. There are some entire halves of games in which M gets three possessions. This is unheard of even for Michigan before 2023.
October 13th, 2023 at 4:24 PM ^
So you think that the new clock rules can impact an individual drive by 2 minutes? Lol how?
October 13th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
I got into a feedback loop of watching old Michigan games lately and realized how many clock rules changes there have been in the last 20 years.
Prior to 2006, not only did the clock stop on a first down, it didn't start again until the ball was snapped. Similarly, out of bounds plays at any time during a game stopped the clock. It would only start at the next snap (in 2008 this changed to "ready to play").
Anyone remember the terrible period of 2007-2008 when the clock was started by the officials prior to the first play of a drive? Once it was ready to play, the clock started! Crazy.
There were a number of rules implemented back and forth between 2005 and 2008, and there were wild swings in the number of plays per game.
For example, in the Big Ten, there were 146 plays per game in 2005, dropping to 131 in 2006, back up to 144 in 2007, and landing at 137 in 2008 (which is essentially where the clock rules stood before this year).
NOTE: The averages in 2022 and 2023 are essentially hovering right around 140.
I got some of that data from a master's thesis from a Clemson student: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1765&context=all_theses
October 13th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
Fox went to commercial half way through your post.
October 13th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
The new clock rules should be called the new advertising rules
October 13th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
excellent. please update the post at the end of the regular season and after the bowl games. statistical significance is almost inevitable.