ACC OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

How Does Replay Work?

The members of the replay booth team consists of a Replay Official, a Communicator and a Technician who watch the game from the press box. During televised games, the video feed comes directly from the TV production truck. Stadium cameras provide the video feed for non-televised games.

Roles:

Replay Official: Ultimate decision making authority on when to stop a play for review and what ruling should be made.

Communicator: Assists in providing the Replay Official with the best angles of video, enters data such as clock status, down/distance and yard line, and provides a second pair of eyes on the field.

Technician: Maintains constant communication with the television video production truck and ensures all equipment remains operational.

Unlike the NFL, every play in college football is reviewed by the Replay Official in the press box. If the Replay Official believes the previous play was ruled in error and the play had a direct, competitive impact on the game, he may stop play for review by paging the officials on the field.

The only other way a play can be reviewed is if the head coach challenges the previous play. However, each team is limited to only one challenge per game, regardless of the outcome of any previous challenge. If a coach challenges a play, and the play is not reversed, the challenging team will lose a timeout.

While the Replay Official is reviewing the play in the booth, the Referee stands by on a headset ready to announce the decision.

Three Possible Announcements:

“The ruling on the field is confirmed.” The video evidence confirms the on-field ruling.

“The ruling on the field stands.” Meaning, there is no indisputable (conclusive) evidence to reverse the on-field ruling.

“The ruling is (a brief description of the video evidence). Therefore, (a brief description of what the reversal means) include down, distance, hash mark and clock status.”