It's 2025, and finally, after years of having the technology to make such a change, it's finally happening. The NFL is moving to measuring the first down measurements to electronic devices. This is long overdue and something the NCAA should quickly follow suit for the good of the product but also for the integrity of the sport.
NFL Replacing 1st-Down Chains with Electronic Measurement this Season pic.twitter.com/Pdn2pYPGCn
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 26, 2025
Wisconsin football would benefit from electronic measurements like the NFL is now employing
The reality is that everyone benefits when things are accurate. While often the argument for non-robotic devices and decisions is to keep the human element in the game, this is one of those things that only human error is involved, not human judgment. Therefore, it's an easy thing to remove and get rid of.
If Wisconsin truly is going to return to a Badger team from the glory days, then they will benefit from this even more. Wisconsin football is known for running the football and picking up 2-4 yards at a time. It's tough, physical, hard-nosed, and not scared to push for an extra yard or two. That type of football always requires a bunch more measurements as they will be inching their way forward.
The NCAA has yet to adopt this rule change and will probably wait until it's employed and figured out at the NFL level, but it's a much-needed change. This is something that I don't think many fans will disagree with. The one hope is that those decisions will not slow down the game, if refs are spending more time at monitors to look at things or decide measurements or whatever, it's not worth it. It should be automatic. That's what it sounds like it will be.
For now, we wait and watch the NFL implement it and hope and even demand the NCAA to find a way to adopt it as soon as possible.