UIL Adds Instant Replay at State Championships

AUSTIN, TX-- The University Interscholastic League announced on Thursday it will add instant replay to every State Championship games annually held at AT&T Stadium beginning in 2018.

“With all UIL State Championship football games at a single location, we have the technology and ability to utilize these powerful tools to make the state championships the best possible experience for coaches, players, officials and fans,” UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt said. “Instant replay will help ensure that the calls during the biggest games of the year are as correct as possible.”

No coaches' challenges are permitted with instant replay with this rule change. All replays will come from a collegiate official in a replay booth, according to the release by the UIL.

The UIL also added that targeting is not a reviewable play under this amendment and that targeting calls will "be called by the officials on the field."

“Because we play football by NCAA rules, which allow for instant replay, we have this opportunity. We are extremely excited to add instant replay to our state championship games,” UIL Director of Athletics Dr. Susan Elza said. “We’ve studied this topic thoroughly, and have had many conversations with officials and coaches. The consensus we’ve heard is that our game is ready for this and it will be a valuable addition.”

The move comes just a week after Alabama instituted instant replay in all of its high school football games.

However, in Texas, instant replay can only be used at the State Championships, not during any game prior.

Texas joins several other states who use or are planning to use instant replay in championship games.