New NCAA interpretation will count a fake slide as the end of the play. This comes after a fake slide got University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett into the end zone in Saturday’s ACC Championship game against Wake Forest.

“Any time a ball carrier begins, simulates, or fakes a feet-first slide, the ball should be declared dead by the on-field officials at that point,” a memo released by NCAA national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said. “The intent of the rule is player safety, and the objective is to give a ball carrier an option to end the play by sliding feet first and to avoid contact. To allow the ball carrier to fake a slide would compromise the defense that is being instructed to let up when the ball carrier slides feet first.”

During the ACC Championship, Pickett used a fake slide and went on to run for a 58-yard touchdown. Defenders paused when they assumed Pickett was going down, but Pickett used that time to instead make a cut and run for 40 more yards.

“I just kind of started slowing down and pulling up and getting ready to slide, and I just kind of saw their body language and they just pulled up as well,” Pickett said. “I have never done that before. I just kind of kept going after I initially started to slide.”

Despite criticism from Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson, Shaw says there is no need for a new rule, because the new interpretation of the existing rule clarifies when to call the play dead. The officials of upcoming games have been notified of the change.

With the College Football Championship behind us, the rest of the teams are looking into the transfer portal to see which talent are looking for new homes entering the 2020 season.

The portal has been a huge addition to college football. Before, an opposing coach would have to contact the opposing university to gain permission to speak with the player. Now, once the player enters their name, any coach can contact them and continue with the transfer process without permission needed.

The transfer portal has seen the likes of great players switching teams like LSU quarterback Joe Burrow who came from Ohio State, and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, who transferred out of Alabama.

This year, a few notable transfers have taken place, with many more still to come.

QB Phil Jurkovec – Notre Dame to Boston College

After visiting the Boston College campus, the former Notre Dame quarterback has decided to make Boston his new home. The four-star member of Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class was rated No. 4 in the country for dual-threat quarterbacks.

Jurkovec played two games as a true freshman and six as a redshirt freshman. As Ian Book’s backup, he completed 12 of 15 pass attempts for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 130 yards on 22 carries.

QB Jamie Newman – Wake Forest to Georgia

The Bulldogs add graduate transfer Jamie Newman to the roster, just days after three-year starter Jake Fromm announced his entry into the NFL draft.

Newman started in 16 games for Wake Forest and will have one year of eligibility left. This season, he completed 60.9% of his attempts for 2,868 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added 574 rushing yards with six more scores.

Newman will battle rising junior Stetson Bennett, redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis and incoming freshman Carson Beck for the starting quarterback job.

Kicker Jose Borregales – FIU to Miami

Jose Borregales will transfer across town to join the Hurricanes. Many remember him as the one who taunted Miami after hitting a trio of kicks, including one from 53 yards, in an FIU November win against the Hurricanes.

Future teammates will most likely overlook his antics as Borregales comes to the team bringing reinforcements to a key weakness. He has kicked 21 of his 29 attempts and is immediately eligible for 2020, something Miami fans will be thankful for.