There was a time when college football games could have felt like they just dragged on and on and on and ...

But not anymore.

The NCAA has implemented new rules to shorten the length of games, which averaged more than three hours and 20 minutes last season.

The play clock is now 40 seconds and starts as soon as the umpire places the ball on the ground. It replaces the 25-second clock that didn't begin until the referee gave the ready-for-play signal.

But the clock can be reset from 40 to 25 following penalties, injuries and timeouts.

The game clock will also begin as soon as the ball has been reset after a play goes out of bounds, except during the final two minutes of each half when an out-of-bounds play will stop the clock until the ball is snapped.

The change should favor up-tempo offenses, like the one Rich Rodriguez is installing at Michigan. But Rodriguez said he doesn't view the change as much of an advantage because more defenses will be adjusted to the quicker tempo.

"We've stressed that to our players on both sides, particularly on defense, the ball's going to be spotted a lot faster and you're going to have more plays coming at you," Rodriguez said during the Big Ten teleconference. "So, conditioning is going to be even more of a factor than it's ever been."

Early bird gets the worm?

The Big Ten coaches, led by Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema, recently sent a letter to the NCAA recommending the addition of an early signing period in December.

The plan would allow high school seniors to sign binding letters of intent on the Wednesday after the last recruiting weekend in December. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) also voted for an early-signing period, but their proposed date would be in late November.

Currently, recruits can't officially sign until February.

But because coaches aren't allowed to make in-home visits until the third weekend of November, Bielema said the SEC's plan doesn't give a coach an opportunity to connect with recruits.

"If we're going to bring someone on our campus and be evaluated by their performance not only on the field but off the field," Bielema said, "we really need a time to be able to sit down with their families and get to know their personalities and who they are.

"If they're going to move that signing period up, the only way you could change the way we recruit is to change the recruiting process itself, and that's something not many people are in favor of."

But it was not a unanimous approval. Illinois head coach Ron Zook, one of the country's top recruiters, said he is adamantly opposed to an early signing date.

All of the reasons Bielema cited for making the date in December are the same reasons Zook doesn't want it to change.

"It changes recruiting, it's hard enough for us to get to know these young men and get to know what you're getting," Zook said. "I honestly am not in favor of it and would like more time to get to know the guys."

Border War

Without a doubt, the marquee game during college football's opening weekend is No. 20 Illinois and No. 6 Missouri meeting in St. Louis for their annual 'Arch Rivalry.'

The game features two of the country's most exciting quarterbacks in Illinois's Juice Williams and Missouri's Chase Daniel. Both teams can score points in bunches. But Zook said the Tigers' defense, with its 10 returning starters, is what vaults the Tigers into national championship consideration.

"When you play a team the caliber of Missouri, it's going to give you an opportunity to know exactly where your program is and the things you have to work on," Zook said. "Our practices have been a little bit more spirited, and our guys are enjoying the chance to compete against a top team like Missouri. It's a great opportunity."