College Football Helmet Communication Security Concerns

Concerns have emerged regarding the integrity of coach-to-player helmet communications in college football, as it was revealed that these communications have been occurring on unencrypted frequencies, potentially accessible to anyone with scanning technology. The Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, and SEC have instructed their teams to return their helmet communication devices to GSC, the provider, for a necessary firmware update to ensure encryption. Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt has requested investigations into the integrity of recent games against Baylor and TCU, where the Red Raiders experienced significant losses, signaling the potential risks associated with unprotected communication. While no instances of compromised communication during games have been confirmed, the situation raises questions about competitive fairness in the sport. This season marks the first in which such communications are permitted at the FBS level, following the NCAA's rule change. The updates are expected to be completed in time for upcoming games this weekend.