The NCAA Rules Oversight Panel convened on Tuesday to review and implement new rules aimed at improving the pace of men’s basketball games. One major update is the introduction of a coach’s challenge for the upcoming season. Teams will now be permitted to challenge one call per game, as long as they have a timeout available. Eligible calls for review include out-of-bounds decisions, basket interference or goaltending, and whether a secondary defender was inside the restricted area.
In addition to being granted one challenge, coaches will now earn a second challenge if their initial challenge is successful. This extra challenge can be used at any time for the rest of the game, including during overtime.
However, there has reportedly been growing support for a major rule change in men’s college basketball: shifting the game format from two halves to four quarters.
According to On3’s Alex Byington, “Last month, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee proposed forming a joint working group to explore feedback on potentially transitioning from halves to quarters.” Since that proposal, the NCAA has acknowledged “positive momentum” behind the idea, and the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel has encouraged Division I conferences to establish their own working groups to gather additional input. Currently, men’s college basketball is the only level of the sport still using halves; women’s college basketball has operated with quarters since the 2015–16 season.
The idea of switching from halves to quarters in men’s college basketball has been a topic of discussion for several years, especially since it remains the only level of the sport in the U.S. still using the two-half format.
The 2025 offseason has already been a busy one for the NCAA. From navigating the House settlement—which now permits schools to directly compensate athletes—to implementing notable rule changes on the court, the organization is in the midst of a transformative period, with even more changes potentially on the horizon.
Switching men’s college basketball from two halves to four quarters would likely require an adjustment period for longtime fans of the sport. While the true impact on gameplay and style remains to be seen, all signs point to this being a change the NCAA is likely to implement sooner rather than later.
