A simple change in Ivy League football kickoff rules has resulted in dramatically reduced concussion rates, a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found.
With approval from the NCAA, the Ivy League introduced two key rule changes to its college kickoffs beginning in 2016. Kickoffs were moved up from the 35-yard line to the 40 and touchbacks from the 20-yard line to the 25. The aim of the 5-yard move was to have more kickoffs land in the end zone to incentivize returners to stay behind their goal line for a touchback and reduce returns—and the collisions that occur during them.