• After the
Big Ten Conference's
2004 experiment with
instant replay, its use was expanded to all but the
Sun Belt and the
WAC conferences in Division I-A. The rules varied between conferences (including the use of coaches' challenges similar to the NFL in the
Mountain West Conference) until the NCAA standardized the rules in
2006. Replay was also permitted in bowl games and, provided the visiting team agreed to its use, in non-conference regular season games. • The protection for a receiver who signals a fair catch includes situations when the ball is muffed until it hits the ground. • Penalties for spearing or similar hits in which the tackler leads with the crown of the head are enforced regardless of the "intent" of the tackler. • The penalty for leaping on field goals/PATs now states it is a foul if a player lined up more than one yard behind the line of scrimmage jumps and lands on players of any team trying to block the kick. If lined up one yard or closer to the line, it is not a foul. • Eliminated the "legal clipping zone"; hits from behind below the knee are prohibited anywhere on the field. • Provided for officials a specific list of acts by players considered unsportsmanlike conduct, including the "throat slash", high stepping and diving into the end zone unchallenged among others. Spontaneous celebrations by players are allowed provided they are not prolonged, taunting, or bring attention to themselves. ==Conference changes==