The introduction of the aforementioned technology has somewhat changed the way college football games at the ACC and FBS levels are being played this season, with teams allowed to use helmet communications and instant replay video on portable tablets during games, similar to NFL game-day operations.
ACC football director Donald Moore has led the league’s transition to new technology, which began with seven ACC teams experimenting with in-game video during the 2023 bowl season and one team using in-helmet communications during that time. The league then drafted a policy on the new technology in February and the league’s rules committee approved the policy in April.
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The ACC partnered with GSC to provide in-helmet communications to all 17 ACC teams, including Notre Dame, and with Apple and DVSport to use Apple iPads for in-game video.
Teams are allowed to have communication devices on 10 helmets per game day, but only two of them can be on the field (one for a defensive player and one for an offensive player). These helmets have a green dot on them. For example, Tech often gives the green dot helmet to King on offense and to linebacker Kyle Efford or safeties Clayton Powell Lee or Lamiles Brooks on defense.
Players on the field can only listen to the communications, and only one coach can communicate over the feed, but communications are muted by a technician stationed in the press box next to the game clock and play clock operator when there are 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
“We had some technical issues the first couple games, but the last game was smooth,” Tech coach Brent Key said Sept. 10. “I think it allowed us to play a cleaner game at times, but it’s something we monitor every week. We go back through the games and we talk about communication, if we had any issues, what we need to improve on.”
Prior to the start of the season, the ACC sent each league school 21 iPads and two sideline carts (one for the visiting team and one for the home team), with 18 of the iPads authorized to operate on game days. The iPads are connected to three in-venue video angles – the program feed, the coaches’ sideline feed and the coaches’ end zone feed – and are authorized for use on the sidelines, coaches’ booths and in the locker rooms.
Through the sideline cart’s wired connection, the iPad instantly downloads videos during the game, and those videos are available to view as soon as they’re removed from the cart, allowing players to remove the tablet as the offensive team leaves the field to watch replays and then put the device back on when they return to the field.
The ACC will have two technicians, one in a purple hat and one in an orange hat, at every game involving league members to make sure the technology is working properly. Teams will not be required to use any of the new technology, and players or coaches could be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct if they try to show replays to officials during a game.
“The ACC remains committed to leveraging technology to enhance the performance of our student-athletes, teams, officials and others,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said at the ACC Football Kickoff in July. “With our state-of-the-art ACC Game Day Operations Center (in Charlotte, North Carolina) and our collaboration with Apple to bring iPad technology to the sidelines and coaches’ booths, we are proud of our unparalleled technology prioritization and the positive impact it is having on our league.”
