Up until the 2024 college football season, a quarterback might be looking to the sidelines and relying on a sound, a sequence of hand motions, or a large sign with logos and symbols on it to get play information. This year, the rules have changed. Players no longer need to rely on these cues to decide which plays come next thanks to the NCAA’s approval of coach-to-player communication for FBS, or football bowl subdivision, teams.
Used in the NFL for 12 years now, coach-to-player communication involves inserting a device into a helmet so play calls can be heard clearly. One defensive player and one offensive player on the field for each team is allowed to wear the communication device, denoted with a bright green “C2P” sticker on the back of the helmet.
While this change is an exciting one, it comes with its own set of challenges. Among them: making sure players can hear play calls over the crowd noise of tens of thousands of fans.
Read more about how the College of Engineering is solving this issue
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page