iPad partners with college football for game advancement

In the world of college football, the iPad has become an integral part of the game day experience for many teams. The SEC, ACC, and Big Ten conferences have all embraced this technology, with the iPad Pro, equipped with the innovative nano-texture display glass, being used for real-time in-game video analysis on the sidelines.

Matt Bairos, Catapult's chief product officer, explains the process: as the game is being tagged with details, the video clips are simultaneously chopped up, synchronized, and sent to iPads. This instant access to video packages is a game-changer, allowing coaches to review plays and make quick corrections, enhancing the competitive edge.

Isaiah Horton of Miami and Mike Saffell, University of California, Berkeley's tight ends coach, both see the in-game iPad use as a means to improve player-to-player coordination. The seamless integration of the new technology, due in part to its familiar interface, has made it an easy addition to the coaching arsenal.

Fernando Mendoza, Cal's starting quarterback, appreciates the live feedback and coaching on the sideline, stating that it has helped young players' development significantly. The iPad's use is also perceived to keep players and coaches on the same page, leading to a more strategy-driven game.

The NCAA has approved a rule that allows college football teams to have up to 18 active tablets on hand during games. This decision, coupled with the collaboration between software companies like Catapult, DVSport, and Apple, is envisioned to lead to a more complex and strategy-driven game, with teams carrying additional plays into games.

However, it's important to note that, as of November 2024, no relevant information about a sports association using iPads on the field for real-time in-game video analysis in cooperation with the NCAA tech rulebook was found.

Players have found the iPad to be helpful in reviewing plays, especially during halftime. The new nano-texture glass on the iPad Pro maintains image quality and contrast while scattering ambient light for reduced glare, making it suitable for viewing video outdoors.

The iPad's impact on college football is considered to make coaching more effective in-game, enabling quick corrections and making the game more competitive. Fred Aucoin, who sees iPad as the evolution of the in-game review system pioneered by his father, Erby Aucoin, who essentially pioneered the practice of in-game reviews in the NFL, agrees.

Brian Lowe, DVSport's president and CEO, echoes this sentiment, stating that the collaboration between DVSport and Apple is an example of new software and hardware working together to deliver game-changing solutions. The future of college football, it seems, is in the hands of these innovative tools.