The Ohio State football team had one of the worst calls in college football this past season happen in a game they were playing in. In their game against Nebraska, the Cornhuskers were screwed out of a first down because of an improper spot. Nebraska had to burn a timeout to get a fourth-down play done.
It's a play that benefitted the Buckeyes but one that never should have happened. The call on the field was wrong, and then the replay booth didn't stop things to change the incorrect ruling. It's one of the plays in football that should be able to be changed without much thought.
The NFL has decided that they aren't going to have issues spotting first downs anymore. They have decided to use an electronic system to determine first downs. The chain gang will still be on the sidelines as a backup, but they won't be the primary source of determining a first down. College football needs the same system.
College football needs to institute the same rule change as the NFL
If the NFL can implement an electronic system to determine a first down, there is no reason that college football can't do the same thing. The fact that first downs are determined by chains in 2025 is archaic at this point. There should just be a chip in the ball, and that should be the end of it.
This system should be used for the goal line, as well. Why would you risk getting this call wrong if you have the technology to easily fix it? It wouldn't slow the game down. In fact, it would speed the game up because there wouldn't be any need for the chain gang to measure close first-down calls.
If this new change goes well for the NFL, I wouldn't be surprised to see this rule to be implemented in college football next season. It's something that makes too much sense not to do. It would help Ohio State, the Big Ten, and all of college football. Unfortunately, it takes way too long for college football to change things for good.