Concussion protocol in college football: Closer look at NCAA medical regulations amid Graham Mertz's injury scare

Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz entered a concussion protocol after a head injury in his team's Week 1 blowout 41-17 loss to the Miami Hurricanes. The nascent college football season was barely three-quarters old before Mertz took a big hit, forcing him from the game.

So, what does the NCAA rule book say about concussions in college football?

The NCAA adopted a concussion safety protocol in 2010 which was mandatory for all member schools. A checklist was developed based on feedback from neurologists, coaches, the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol committee, directors and physicians.

The checklist was used to inform the players and athletic departments of schools on how to deal with concussions to ensure their long-term well-being.

The process of ensuring that the protocol checklist is made available to all member schools by the NCAA before every season began in 2015, and was backed by laws that govern the process. The checklist is updated regularly with the current one last updated in 2020.

Whenever a player suffers a concussion, the program's healthcare staff are responsible for making sure that they follow the legislation laid out in the protocol.

NCAA sued for disregard of concussion protocol

The beleaguered NCAA has not always taken the necessary concussion protocol precautions and in March 2024, they were sued by Thomas Riedy. He is the son of Gerald Riedy, who played college football for Pepperdine and California State and died in 2018.

Riedy was diagnosed with Stage II Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Lewy Body dementia after his death, necessitating the lawsuit. The plea states that the NCAA disregarded the effects of concussions to protect the commercial aspect of football.

“Despite knowing for decades of a vast body of scientific research describing the dangers of concussive and sub-concussive impacts like those Gerald Riedy experienced, Defendant failed to implement adequate procedures to protect Riedy from the long-term dangers associated with them. It did so knowingly and for profit,” the complaint said.

“As a direct result of Defendant’s acts and omissions, Gerald Riedy suffered brain and other neurocognitive injuries from playing NCAA football, culminating in his death and his diagnoses of dementia and Stage II Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.”

These days, the NCAA takes concussion protocols extremely seriously with the legislation governing head injuries much tighter than ever before. It is also always evolving to ensure both the immediate and long-term protection of student-athletes.