The UIL and NCAA use the same rulebook. But every offseason, the UIL builds in exceptions to adapt those college rules to the high school game. For instance, there is no replay review in high school football until the state championship game. 

Don’t be caught off guard by a new rule and immediately expose yourself for not knowing ball. Here are three rules that will be new to TXHSFB in 2026.

Targeting

We all agree that the targeting rule comes from the best intentions, to protect defenseless players. But there are a couple of infuriating aspects of the rule. 

For years in college football, players who were ejected for targeting in the second half were suspended for the first half of the next game. Also, even if a targeting call was reversed in a review, the 15-yard penalty associated with it was not. That meant that even if there was technically a legal hit, it was punished as if it were illegal.

On an experimental basis in 2026, the NCAA will not carry over a suspension for a targeting ejection unless it is a player’s second offense of the season. There will also no longer be a 15-yard penalty enforced if a review negates the targeting.

Here’s the difference in high school: If an official has a question on whether or not targeting should be called, they should throw the flag. If the foul is flagrant – defined as “contact so extreme or deliberate that it places an opponent in danger of catastrophic injury” – the player shall be disqualified. If the ejection comes in the second half, the player does not have to sit out in the first half of the next game. However, the UIL or UIL District Committee may impose additional disciplinary action.

But if the foul is the player’s first targeting penalty of the game, and the foul is not deemed flagrant, the player is not disqualified. The only time a player is automatically disqualified is when they commit two targeting fouls in one game, regardless if they’re deemed ‘flagrant.’

If the foul is the player’s first targeting foul of the game, AND the foul is deemed not to be flagrant, the foul does not require disqualification. A second targeting foul by the same player in the same game is automatically classified as flagrant and therefore requires the player to be disqualified.

Introducing the Fair Catch Kick

You’ve heard of the fair catch, but you’ve never seen it done like this. 

If the receiving team makes a fair catch of a free or scrimmage kick at any point in the game, that coach has the option of attempting a Fair Catch Kick instead of a regular scrimmage play. The Fair Catch Kick is an unrushed field goal in which the defense stands 10 yards back the point of kick. If the kick is unsuccessful, however, the other team can return it. The team that’s elected a Fair Catch Kick is also not allowed to line up for a kick and run a trick play. If the field goal, or drop kick, is made, it’s a three-point field goal. If the field goal is missed, all normal rules for the next play after a missed field goal apply. 

This strategy could come particularly in handy at the end of halves or the fourth quarter of games. If the fair catch is signaled as time expires during the play, the receiving team gets an untimed free kick attempt.

Offensive Pass Interference Penalty Reduced from 15 to 10 Yards

Defensive pass interference will still be a spot foul with a maximum of a 15 yard penalty.