Effective for the 2025–26 season, the NCAA’s Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a major suite of rule updates aimed at improving game flow and cutting down on prolonged replay stoppages:

Coach’s Challenge: Men’s Basketball

• Coaches may now challenge out-of-bounds calls, basket interference/goaltending, and whether a secondary defender was in the restricted‑area arc—only if they have at least one timeout.

• A successful challenge grants one additional challenge (even in overtime); a failed one forfeits further challenges.

• Officials may still initiate video reviews late in games (final two minutes/overtime) for interference and restricted‑arc plays 

• This replaces referee-initiated reviews for out‑of-bounds plays, limiting interruptions for the rest of the game.

Other Men’s Rule Revisions

• Continuous motion rule change: Players fouled while moving toward the basket may now complete the step they are on and attempt the shot (NBA style), increasing and‑1 opportunities.

• Flagrant 1 fouls are now permitted for groin contact, allowing two free throws and possession (instead of auto ejection). Officiating directives aim to reduce delays, limit monitor time, improve efficiency, and reduce physicality 

• Discussions are underway to move from halves to four quarters, and conferences are forming working groups to explore this change

Coach’s Challenges: Women’s Basketball

• A different, more flexible challenge system applies: coaches may challenge out-of-bounds, backcourt violations, possession rulings before fouls involving free throws, and whether fouls are correctly assigned—even without a timeout requirement.

• A failed challenge results in a team technical foul for excessive timeout use.

• Officials cannot initiate these replays (except for foul-assessment checks)