I love these CFB philosophical discussions.
One more thing on the clock rules:
The ONLY thing that stops the clock outside of a change of possession (score, INT, punt) is an incomplete pass (outside of final 2 minutes).
A quiet CFB trend is the small uptick in completion percentage.
Teams with 60% or better completion percentage:
2025 - 101
2024 - 83
2023 - 77
2022 - 75
2021 - 73
2020 - 73
2019 - 68
2018 - 59
2017 - 51
2016 - 44
Teams with 65% or better completion percentage:
2025 - 50
2024 - 29
2023 - 26
2022 - 24
2021 - 21
2020 - 27
2019 - 19
2018 - 21
Two things (I think) are happening:
1) Passes are shorter, which makes it more likely to be complete.
2) Longer passes have a higher rate of incompletion + points, which means longer games.
3) Less explosives = longer drives.
So for the Miami vs Louisville example: Carson Beck and Miller Moss combined for 48/72, which is exactly 2 out of 3 passes being completed (66.6%). That would be a Top 30 mark in CFB.
Games are shorter and you must maximize your opportunities.
Sloppier coached teams will be inevitably be punished no matter how much talent you have.
2016 NCG Clemson had 17 possessions vs Alabama
vs Louisville last week, Miami had 11 possessions
The end of the RPO era paired with clock rules shortening the game (aka more commercials) are two sneaky but huge contributors to perceived (or actual) parity in college football