The game of football is clearly the most popular sport around the United States. The subject of college football versus professional football includes a topic of many debates among football fans across America. Each individual has their own opinion on which they prefer. There are many similarities, of course, when comparing college football to the NFL. First and foremost, the same basic rules of the game apply. Teams are comprised of a full roster who all have the same goal. For instance, each have a quarterback, receivers, defense players, offense players, and so forth.
In both college and the NFL, the competition between fan’s and rivalry remains intense. Fans within each division favor certain teams and incorporate enthusiasm. Fans may wear hats or wigs, also even painting themselves to represent their favoritism. By the design of the game, whether it is college or an NFL game, fans are thrilled by an action-packed experience. Another similarity is that both leagues are now enforcing the ‘no helmet to helmet hit’ rule, which I believe is beneficial to the players althought it hasn’t had much of an effect so far.
Helmet to helmet hits on other players can result in serious injury including concussion, spinal injury, some players have even gotten paralyzed. I think the enforcement of a fine to the player that hits a defenseless player has encouraged players to watch out for the dangerous hitting just to make sure no one is seriously injured. Differences among college football and the NFL are attributed as well. One of the primary differences includes that professional football players are paid higher salaries.
Although, some may argue that college players are awarded scholarships that may be portrayed as a salary, it slightly compares to the pay of a professional player. Similarly, one of the biggest differences in the two leagues is the rule of how many feet the player needs in-bounds for it to be a completion. In college, if the players has full control of the ball and puts one fut on the ground, it is ruled a completion. However, in the NFL the player needs to have not one but two feet in-bounds and complete control for it to be a completion. I strongly disagree with NCAAF’s differential in this situation.
I think that college players should also need to have two feet in-bounds. Therefore, if and when they make it to the NFL, they will not be used to the fact that they only need one foot in. In addition, there are more games played within the NFL rather than college. Also, professional games are longer; along with a difference in the overtime rule. While a college overtime rule seems fairer than the NFL overtime rule, the NFL strategizes in a better way. The NFL overtime system provides the coin toss, while the college over time system does not.
The biggest problem pertained with the college overtime system has to do with field position. The teams start in the field goal range; this makes an easy sack of the quarterback. Also, starting in the field goal range makes it difficult to gain yards. On the other hand, the NFL has recently changed its overtime rules that now state if the team that first has possession in overtime ends their first drive in a field goal then the opposing team still gets a chance with the ball. However, if the team starting with the ball scores a touchdown on their first drive the game is over.
Subsequently, once this rule comes in affect and the first team scores a field goal, it is sudden death from there on out. So if Chicago started with the ball and ended the drive with a field goal, and then Buffalo got the ball and ended the drive with a touchdown, it’s game over and Buffalo would win. This is one of the most controversial debates in all of sports, and neither side will ever change their mind. Personally, I prefer the NFL. Regardless, its been one of the biggest sources of entertainment in America as long as anything. Ultimately, the similarities and differences of the two sports are endless.
