College football teams can now use coach-to-helmet technology after the NCAA’s Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the measure Thursday.

The coach-to-helmet technology, a strategic breakthrough, allows coaches to communicate with one player on the field. This communication is designed to turn off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first, enhancing the game’s dynamics.

The player with communication capabilities will have a green dot on the back of their helmet.

Searching for Knightro: A ‘phenomenal’ and ‘rock star’ life awaits next UCF mascot

This cutting-edge technology, a privilege exclusive to games featuring Football Bowl Subdivision teams, is set to revolutionize how the game is played and strategized.

UCF has been experimenting with the technology during spring camp, but coach Gus Malzahn is still determining how it will work once the Knights kick off in the fall.

“We’re still working through all that, but it’s a great advantage, especially for a team like us,” Malzahn recently said. “Anytime you can talk to the quarterback and give him any kind of information as far as that goes, it’s a positive, especially when you have the guy on defense doing the same thing.”

New Knights defensive coordinator Ted Roof isn’t sure how it will impact the defense, but he’s in favor of the move.

“Some of it depends on what the offense does and whether it makes sense,” said Roof. “It’s something we’re working through. Hopefully, it’s good for college football.”

UCF football spring transfer tracker: Gus Malzahn reloads for Year 2 in Big 12

The NFL has used coach-to-quarterback communication since 1994, with the defense adding its element in 2008.

“If you look at all the NFL rules, they’ve spent a lot of money in research and development, so doing what they do is probably smart,” added Roof.

The NCAA is also following the NFL’s lead by allowing teams to use tablets to view in-game videos only. Teams can have up to 18 active tablets in the coaches’ booth, on the sidelines and in the locker room.

Video can include the broadcast feed and camera angles from the coach’s sideline and end zone. Tablets cannot be connected to other devices and cannot include analytics, data or other communication access.

The panel also approved adding an automatic timeout with two minutes remaining at the end of the first half and the fourth quarter.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Orlando City is riding high after a comeback victory on the road against D.C. United. Now the Lions travel to Canada in search of a second victory in a row.

The Lions (2-3-2, 8 points) take on CF Montréal (3-3-1, 10 points) at Stade Saputo on Saturday (MLS Season Pass, 7:30).

This is the second time the two sides have faced off. They played to a 0-0 draw during MLS opening weekend in Orlando. The Lions held their own in that one, but Montréal is heading into this off an impressive win against FC Cincinnati.

“Certainly, we played against them already in a very good match here with a tie. Now we need to go to their place. We know they’re having good results, too,” said Lions coach Oscar Pareja. “We’re very optimistic. We can go to Montreal as well and look forward to our victory.”

One key to Orlando’s success is the partnership of centerbacks Robin Jansson and David Brekalo. Brekalo scored the winner against D.C. United and appears to have finally worked his way back fully from a preseason injury that had limited his impact.

As their partnership grows, it has become more and more difficult for teams to break through Orlando’s defense.

“I can say that he was super helpful and is someone that I can also learn from and I feel safe out there playing with him,” Brekalo said about Jansson. “He’s always giving a hand out to help me with whatever I need and covering my back in the game. And so honestly, I can say great captain and great teammate.”

Orlando City’s defense needs to be at its best against Montréal’s dangerous duo of forwards Matias Coccaro and Josef Martinez. They have combined for 5 goals and 4 assists.

Martinez has been a thorn in Orlando’s side since coming to MLS in 2017, scoring important goals during his time with Atlanta United and Inter Miami.

Ramiro Enrique (right ankle) is the only player unavailable for Orlando City.

Up Next

Orlando City at CF Montreal

When: Saturday at Stade Saputo

TV: MLS Season Pass, 7:30

Sports writers rarely reveal the philosophy that guides their coverage. Readers assume things — sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly — but perhaps that’s because sports writers don’t clearly define the situation.

So, as the Dolphins prepare for the NFL draft, and as we take more steps down the path to the regular season, I’m issuing my Journalistic Guiding Light for the 2024 Dolphins.

For the record, here’s the backdrop for everything I write or say about this team, and the basis of my coverage:

The 2024 Miami Dolphins were assembled to win a Super Bowl, not merely make the playoffs or win one or two playoff games, so the 2024 Dolphins can’t simply be better than last year, when they went 11-6 and failed to win a single playoff game. They must be much, much better.

I think that’s a fair, objective statement.

If I was covering the Dallas Cowboys, it’d be the same storyline (except they won 12 games last season).

Yes, I’m harder on this team and more critical of this team than almost every other media member.

Many of them focus on the joy of the 2023 Dolphins having the No. 1 offense in the league while I focus on the disappointment of the 2023 Dolphins going 1-6 against playoff teams.

We have spirited debates about that.

But there’s no Dolphins hate on my part.

Yes, I hold this incredibly talented team to a high standard.

As I’ve stated many times, I like and respect coach Mike McDaniel, I like and respect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and I like and respect general manager Chris Grier.

But they’ve underachieved.

I consider that to be another fair, objective statement.

Don’t get it twisted.

I’m not saying McDaniel, Tagovailoa and Grier are bad at their jobs.

I truly believe they’re all good at their jobs.

But the Dolphins’ goal is winning a Super Bowl.

Good isn’t good enough.

The Dolphins need great.

The Dolphins need outstanding.

That’s the standard.

Anyone who knows Dolphins owner Steve Ross has probably heard him say, “I’m used to being best in class.”

That’s what the Dolphins need from Grier, McDaniel, Tagovailoa and everyone else.

Best in class.

No. 1.

Look, no one expected the Dolphins to win the Super Bowl in either of the past two years, but winning a playoff game is something you’d expect from a team whose offense ranked No. 6 and No. 1 in the league, and whose defense ranked No. 10 last year.

I fully acknowledge the injuries.

They’ve been crippling.

Understood.

Limp to a playoff win.

They’ve had a Pro Bowl quarterback, Pro Bowl wide receiver, Pro Bowl running back, Pro Bowl left tackle, Pro Bowl fullback, Pro Bowl edge rusher and Pro Bowl cornerback.

They have a bright, innovative young coach in McDaniel.

They had a highly regarded defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio, who left).

They should be doing better. 

I’m not taking a shot at anybody.

I’m not ripping anybody.

I’m looking objectively at the assembled talent. The Dolphins were widely regarded as having one of the most talented rosters in the league the previous two seasons.

The results don’t square up with the assembled talent.

I appreciate two playoff berths by McDaniel, an innovative, first-time head coach who turned an unproven quarterback into a Pro Bowl player.

I appreciate the contributions of star players such as Tua, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left tackle Terron Armstead and many others, the strong contributions of backups in the face of two years of severe injuries, and the fighting spirit of this hard-working team.

I genuinely enjoy covering these guys every day. It’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve encountered in more than 30 years.

But that can’t cloud the truth.

This team has disappointed.

Here are some realities:

The Dolphins have a 20-16 (.556) record, including playoffs, in the past two seasons.

The Dolphins are 4-10 in December/January games in the past two seasons.

The Dolphins are 3-12 against playoff teams in the past two seasons.

Last season the Dolphins went 10-1 against non-playoff teams and 1-6 against playoff teams.

Average score in those two sets of games last season:

Dolphins 36, Non-Playoff Opponent 18;

Playoff Opponent 32, Dolphins 16.

That’s hammering the non-playoff teams and getting hammered by the playoff teams.

That’s failing to meet expectations.

That’s underachieving.

But it’s not a limitation on what the 2024 Dolphins can accomplish.

Yes, at this point I think the Dolphins will probably remain steady or even take a small step backward this season, largely because of the amount of talent they’ve lost.

However, it’s way too early to know anything for certain.

I’m optimistic and hopeful for the 2024 Dolphins.

I think they’ll make the playoffs.

But I can’t predict a playoff victory yet.

Now you know the foundation of my Dolphins coverage, the jumping off point.

It’s not rooted in negativity, it’s rooted in the reality of whether the Dolphins are meeting, and will meet, expectations.

Here’s one other thing to note regarding my coverage: I think the Dolphins can have a successful season without winning a Super Bowl, or even advancing to the Super Bowl.

However, considering it’s Year 3 of the McDaniel-Tua-Grier triumvirate, anything short of an AFC Championship game appearance might be hard to call a success.

By KELVIN CHAN (AP Business Writer)

LONDON (AP) — Olympic organizers unveiled their strategy Friday to use artificial intelligence in sports, joining the global rush to capitalize on the rapidly advancing technology.

The International Olympic Committee outlined its agenda for taking advantage of AI. Officials said it could be used to help identify promising athletes, personalize training methods and make the games fairer by improving judging.

“Today we are making another step to ensure the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and the relevance of sport. To do this, we have to be leaders of change,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at a press event in the velodrome at the Olympic Park in London, which hosted the summer games in 2012.

“We are determined to exploit the vast potential of AI in a responsible way,” Bach said.

The IOC revealed its AI master plan as it gears up to hold the Paris Olympics, which are set to kick off in just under 100 days.

The IOC’s AI plans also include using the technology to protect athletes from online harassment and to help broadcasters improve the viewing experience for people watching from home. The IOC earns billions of dollars through the sale of broadcast rights for the games.

Some AI projects will be rolled out at the Paris games and the IOC has set up a working group on the technology to further drive its adoption in sport, Bach said, without being more specific.

The local organizers of the Paris games have sparked controversy with their plans to use artificial intelligence for security, with a video surveillance system that includes AI-powered cameras to flag potential security risks such as abandoned packages or crowd surges. Digital watchdog groups fear that a proposal to legalize smart surveillance systems, even if only temporarily, will infringe on privacy, though the French government insists the systems won’t use facial recognition technology.

Asked about the concerns, Bach told reporters it’s up to the authorities in the host country, not the IOC, to decide on ”the best tools to apply to secure the games.”

“What we have seen from the French government and from the authorities is that the efforts to ensure security in Paris are really, on a very wide scope, very professional. So we have all confidence in the French authorities,” he said.

Skier Lindsey Vonn said she was envious of the AI-powered tools that weren’t available when she was starting out.

Vonn said back in the day she took notes by hand in her performance diary on how different skis, boots and the temperature affected her performance. Nowadays, tablets are used to instantly crunch much more data, as well as give a side-by-side video comparison of the best racing line. AI can supercharge those analytical tools, she said.

“It’s not replacing athletes, it’s not replacing coaching. But I think it’s just another tool that can be used in a positive way to perform better,” Vonn said.

The IOC has partnered with Intel to scout out potential athletes in overlooked places. The tech company took its equipment to Senegal, where they visited five villages and analyzed the athletic ability of a thousand children, by measuring how high they could jump and how fast they could react.

Using AI to analyze the results, “we found 40 that are really promising,” said Christoph Schell, Intel’s chief commercial officer.

The shortlisted kids’ results were then run through an algorithm that recommended what sports they’d be good at, he said.

Olympic officials are also aware of AI risks. Bach warned against allowing machines to be the ultimate arbiter of a young athlete’s career. Someone who’s a “great athlete in wrestling must still have the chance to play tennis and cannot be sorted out” by the algorithms, he said.

___

AP videojournalist Kwiyeon Ha contributed to this report.