The college football season kicks off this weekend, and Nebraska will follow suit on Aug. 31 against South Alabama.

As in most seasons, there will be some new rule changes to be aware of to start the season. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest changes that will affect things on the field.

Targeting changes

Targeting calls for a player committing a targeting foul that is sustained by instant replay to be ejected from the game and suspended for the next half of play. This means that a player disqualified in the second half must also sit out the first half of his team's next game.

This year, the rules committee further strengthened the penalty, addressing the issue of repeat offenders. Under the new rule, a player who is ejected for a third or more targeting foul anytime during the season also will be ineligible for the entire next game. For example, if a player is disqualified for targeting in two games any time during the season, and then is ejected for a third or more targeting foul anytime during the rest of the season, he will be suspended also for the entire next game.

It does not matter when this additional foul happens: whether it is in the first quarter or the fourth quarter, he will be ineligible for the whole next game. It is the player's next scheduled game---whenever that is.

The Wedge

For a number of years, the three-man wedge has been illegal on kickoffs. This is when three players on the receiving team align shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other to block for the ball carrier. Beginning in 2019, this rule is even more restrictive: the two-man wedge will be illegal and will carry a 15-yard penalty. As in the past, the wedge is not illegal during an onside kick or when the play results in a touchback. The only change is that the two-man wedge is outlawed.

Sorry, Kenny Bell

A player delivers a blindside block when the opponent cannot see the block coming in time to defend himself. For a number of years, such a block has been outlawed as a targeting foul if it includes forcible contact to the head or neck area. In 2019, it will now be illegal to deliver a blindside block by attacking an opponent with forcible contact, no matter where the contact is made. The words attacking and forcible will be key for the officials on the field in calling this foul. If the contact is to the head or neck area, it is still a targeting foul. However, it will now be a personal foul even if it is not a targeting foul—that is, even if the block is not to the head or neck area. The blindside block foul will carry a 15-yard penalty.

Overtime changes

Beginning in 2019, starting with the fifth overtime, each team will have only one play: a two-point conversion attempt from the three-yard line. For a number of years, beginning with the third overtime a team that scores a touchdown must attempt a two-point conversion. This will still be true for the third and fourth overtimes, but when the fifth overtime begins, the new one-play-per-team rule will take effect.