The NCAA Rules Committee wants to slow down offenses by allowing defenses to substitute on just about every play. According to ESPN: "The committee's proposal would allow defensive players to substitute within the first 10 seconds of the 40-second play clock, except for the final two minutes of each half. Offenses that snap the ball before 29 seconds remain on the play clock would receive a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty."

Obviously this was done to pacify the SEC, because their Head Coaches, especially Saban and Bielema knew that their teams could never compete against the likes of Oregon and other teams unless they could freely substitute on the defensive side of the ball. Pac 12 Head Coaches responded predictably. Arizona HC Rich Rodriguez called the new rule "ridiculous". Most Head Coaches did not even know that this rules change was even being considered. Even SEC Head Coaches Malzahn of Auburn and Freeze of Mississippi are against such a rule. ""If they say it's not occurring anyway, why put in a rule?" Freeze said. "I just don't really understand what we gain from this other this rule other than a chance to create more chaos." I guess Saban saw the handwriting on the wall and knew that 'Bama did not have the athletes to compete against teams that used this type of offense.