NCAA allows 1 big change to college football fields for 2024

University logos cover a wall in the lobby of NCAA headquarters Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Indianapolis. Photo Credit: Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Viewers will notice a significant change to college football fields when the season kicks off in August thanks to an NCAA rule change that was finalized Thursday.

The NCAA announced that schools will be allowed to place advertisements on fields across college football starting in 2024. The placement of the ads will be limited to one at midfield and two more smaller flanking advertisements elsewhere on the field. Previously, such advertising was banned, though exceptions were made for neutral site and bowl games.

Most college football fields involved some combination of school and conference logos, like this slightly botched BYU example from last year. Even the NFL has been unwilling to do this except for preseason games, so the NCAA is taking a more aggressive stance.

Schools will not be required to put ads on the field, and some might decline to do so in the name of tradition. It will be a tempting revenue source for many, however.