Ezekiel Elliott may be less ab-riffic in 2015. (USATSI)
Ezekiel Elliott may be less ab-riffic in 2015. (USATSI)

Amid the news that the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Proposal would not be altering the ineligible linemen downfield rule as initially proposed, the NCAA also announced last week several other minor rules changes, one of which is of particular interest to a certain Ohio State running back.

Per the NCAA, players who wear so-called crop-top jerseys in such a style that creates "exposed back pads" will now be asked to leave the field "for at least one play."

"The equipment must be corrected for the player to return to the game," the NCAA's release states. "The player may remain in the game if his team takes a timeout to correct the equipment issue."

For the overwhelming majority of players, this tweak won't mean anything. But for the handful of players who favor the retro-leaning crop-top style and an exposed midriff, the news signals a very big uniform change, indeed.

One such player is Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott, who spent much of Ohio State's run to the national title mimicing the crop-top look of former Ohio State star Eddie George.

"I like a little midriff showing," Elliott said last year.

Via the medium of retweets and emojis, Ellott's Twitter feed -- which includes the line "hero in a half-shirt" in his bio -- had plenty to say on the subject:

And via Land-Grant Holy Land, Elliott's father chimed in as well:

Could those protests get anywhere? Not likely -- the NCAA (thankfully) has never been as strict about uniform uniformity as its professional counterparts, but if crop-tops are viewed as a competitive advantage (and the lack of jersey to grab makes a good argument), they're not going to be permitted to stay. (It's also nice to see the minor punishment fit the minor crime. A flag isn't necessary.)

Some other rules changes worth noting:

"A 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul will be called on players who push or pull opponents off piles -- for example, after fumbles." Expect to see a lot of flags fly early in the season as players adjust to this rule. This is a shrewd move from the NCAA rules panels; post-fumble scrums have been guaranteed chippiness-generators in recent seasons.

"Instant replay reviews will be allowed to see if a kicking team player blocked the receiving team before the ball traveled 10 yards on onside-kick plays." And onside kicks get that much more incrementally difficult (again).

"If a helmet comes off a defensive player in the final minute of a half, 10 seconds will be run off the game clock, and the play clock will be set at 40 seconds. Previously, the play clock was set to 25 seconds." Wait, so if Team A is driving for a game-winning field goal down two points with seven seconds to play, and a helmet pops off a defender from Team B, Team B automatically wins the game? And this was already the case last year? Are coaches in Team B's position going to order every defender on their team to loosen their chinstraps with the game on the line? 

(No, they won't, and there's a good chance we're misinterpreting this somehow. But it seems ... exploitable.)