The Seven Biggest Changes And Controversies Rocking Big Ten Football Officials In 2025

The 2025 Big Ten football season is shaping up to be one of the most scrutinized in history for its officiating crews, with a wave of new rules, experimental alignments, and high-profile controversies dominating the conversation. As of late 2025, the conference's Coordinator of Football Officials, Bill Carollo, is spearheading a series of initiatives designed to improve accuracy and maintain control, directly responding to several critical errors and widespread fan frustration from the previous season. These changes, which range from a revolutionary new onside kick alignment to a strict crackdown on coach behavior, are fundamentally altering how the game is managed on the field. The pressure on the men and women in stripes has never been higher, especially as the Big Ten continues its expansion and moves closer to the new College Football Playoff format. Understanding the structure, the recent mistakes, and the new mandates is crucial for any fan who wants to know why a flag is thrown—or why it isn't.

The New Era of Big Ten Officiating: Key Personnel and Structure

The Big Ten Conference employs a dedicated team of officials, overseen by the Coordinator of Football Officials, Bill Carollo. Carollo, a former NFL official himself, is the central figure responsible for recruitment, training, assignment, and evaluation of all crews. The standard Big Ten crew operates with eight officials on the field, each with a distinct area of responsibility:

• Referee (R): The crew chief, responsible for all final decisions, announcing penalties, and overall game management. A notable recent referee is Ron Snodgrass, who was assigned the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game.
• Umpire (U): Positions himself behind the defensive line, focusing on blocks, holding, and equipment.
• Head Linesman / Down Judge (HL/DJ): Works the sideline, responsible for the line of scrimmage, offsides, and line-to-gain measurements.
• Line Judge (LJ): Works the opposite sideline from the Down Judge, assisting with the line of scrimmage and clock management.
• Field Judge (FJ): Positions himself 20 yards deep on the Line Judge's side, focusing on receivers, blocks, and the goal line.
• Side Judge (SJ): Positions himself 20 yards deep on the Down Judge's side, mirroring the Field Judge's responsibilities.
• Back Judge (BJ): Positions himself 25 yards deep, focusing on the play clock, deep passes, and the goal line.
• Center Judge (CJ): A relatively newer position, positioned opposite the Referee, assisting with spotting the ball and monitoring the offensive line.

Pioneers and New Voices in the Big Ten

The conference has also seen historic advancements in its personnel. Amanda Sauer, for instance, has broken barriers by becoming the Big Ten's first female referee, marking a significant step forward in the sport's officiating landscape. Furthermore, the Big Ten Network (BTN) has bolstered its broadcast coverage by adding former NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira, who provides expert analysis and insight into controversial calls, helping to educate the public on the complexity of the rules.

The Big Ten’s Major Officiating Rule Changes and Crackdowns for 2025

Responding to a tumultuous 2024 season, Bill Carollo and the Big Ten office have instituted several key changes, some of which are experimental and specific to the conference, to address areas of consistent confusion and controversy.

1. The Experimental Onside Kick Alignment

Perhaps the most dramatic in-season change, the Big Ten received NCAA approval to implement a new, experimental officiating alignment for onside kicks. This change was a direct response to a controversial offsides penalty on a recovered onside kick (such as the one involving Minnesota or a highly-debated call in the Michigan game) that put a spotlight on the difficulty of policing the kicking team's restraining line. The new protocol involves placing two officials—typically a combination of the Umpire, Down Judge, or Line Judge—directly on the kicking team’s restraining line. This "double coverage" is intended to provide a better angle and higher certainty in calling offsides, which technically occurs if a player is not behind the ball when it is kicked, not simply behind the 35-yard line. This experimental move demonstrates the conference's willingness to innovate to improve accuracy on high-leverage plays.

2. Crackdown on Coaches’ Sideline Antics

At the 2025 Big Ten Media Days, Coordinator Bill Carollo made it clear the conference would be taking a firmer stance on sideline control. The new emphasis is a direct response to escalating confrontations and unsportsmanlike conduct from coaching staffs, which can distract officials and set a poor example. Carollo indicated that officials have been instructed to more strictly enforce rules regarding coaches leaving the coaching box, arguing calls, and generally engaging in "sideline antics." This mandate aims to maintain the integrity of the game and ensure the focus remains on the players.

3. NCAA-Mandated Terminology Shift

While not Big Ten-specific, all officials must adhere to the NCAA's national rule changes for the 2025 season. One minor but notable change in the instant replay review process is the replacement of the terms "Confirmed" and "Stands" with the single term "Upheld" when the ruling on the field is determined not to be overturned. This standardization is intended to simplify communication and reduce confusion for fans and broadcasters following the replay process.

The Grading System: How Big Ten Officials Are Held Accountable

Big Ten officials are not volunteers; they are highly trained professionals whose performance is rigorously evaluated each week. Their careers depend on maintaining a high grade, which directly influences their game assignments, including coveted spots in bowl games and the Big Ten Championship Game.

Weekly Evaluation and Ranking Process

The evaluation process is comprehensive and multi-layered:

• Game Tape Breakdown: Each game is meticulously reviewed, with every official's performance on every play being broken down and graded by the conference office.
• Peer and Coach Feedback: Officials' rankings are determined through a combination of in-game evaluations, but also incorporate feedback from their peers and the coaches involved in the game.
• Instant Replay Review Grades: The performance of the instant replay crew is also graded separately to ensure they are applying the rules correctly and efficiently.
• Advancement: For most officials, the job is a secondary career, meaning advancement requires a significant commitment of time and a consistently high grade to move up from the high school and lower collegiate ranks.

Recent Controversies and Admitted Errors

The need for stricter evaluation was underscored by several high-profile officiating errors in the 2024 season:

• The Nebraska-Ohio State Error: The Big Ten publicly admitted a major refereeing mistake was made during the Nebraska vs. Ohio State game, which drew significant national attention and scrutiny to the crew’s performance.
• Penn State vs. Oregon Complaints: The officiating in the Big Ten Championship Game between Penn State and Oregon was heavily criticized, with Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin, calling out the seemingly "lopsided" officiating and lack of calls for blatant holding penalties.
• The UCLA Penalty: In a game involving UCLA and Iowa, a controversial and widely-debated call involved officials reportedly making up a "duplicate jersey number penalty," highlighting the need for absolute clarity and rule accuracy.

The focus on accountability, the implementation of the experimental onside kick alignment, and the renewed emphasis on coach behavior are all part of the Big Ten’s effort to restore confidence in its officiating program. With the conference expanding and the stakes higher than ever, the performance of Bill Carollo's crews will be under the microscope throughout the 2025 season.