Texas Tech AD raises concerns about integrity of helmet communications, asks Big 12 to review two recent games

Texas Tech has asked the Big 12 for a report from two recent games to ensure that a flaw in college football’s new helmet communications system did not compromise the results, ESPN reports. The school is asking the league to review its 59-35 loss to Baylor on Oct. 19 and last Saturday’s 35-34 loss to TCU.  

The request comes as amid concerns that opponents may have been able to tap into unencrypted frequencies to listen in on coach-to-player communications.

“We’ve got to have a game whose integrity is not questionable in any way on a Saturday afternoon,” Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt told ESPN. “We owe it to the 120 young men on our football team to ensure that happens, that it’s a game of fair competition and the same set of rules are enforced.”

An issue in the technology used by teams for pre-snap discussions was first discovered prior to a game between Texas A&M and Arkansas in September, according to the Athletic. As a result, Big 12 schools have been instructed to send their helmet communication systems in for a software update ahead of this weekend’s games, ESPN reports.

The NCAA approved the implementation of coach-to-player helmet communications in April, clearing the way for pre-snap conversations that mirror what’s allowed in the NFL. Coaches are allowed to communicate with one player, who is identified by a green dot on the back of their helmet. That line of communication is turned off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first.