What is the rationale for not having the down by contact rule in college football?

Always funny how college players forget they’re not in the league and go to touch a guy that’s down

i kinda like how it takes the officiating out of it. if the defender smacks the ankles of the ball carrier and he stumbles, but kinda re-gains his balance, then falls down, is he down by "contact?"

it's just easier to defend. if a player is down, he's down. no need to try to be a physicist and determine if the defender's contact made enough impact to force the defender down

What is the rationale for a player being down but allowed to get back up?

I thought part of it was to prevent the trickeration from a ball carrier hiding behind the line by getting on the ground / taking a knee, only to spring up later and throw the ball or whatever - sort of like the fumble-roosky or whatever it's called.

Back in the old days of leather helmets, didn't they have 4 person backfield where they would snap the ball and everyone in the backfield would huddle with the ball, almost taking a knee, then spring out in different directions and it was hard to figure out who had the ball?

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In the NFL, you have to be touched by an opposing player to be considered down.

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And usually a ceremonial tap which is stupid.

CFB (mostly) adheres to the original rules.

You gotta stay upright,...that's the game.

I like the pro games having rules that make the game a little more difficult than college.
the games should step up in difficulty as you climb the ranks

football:
down without contact
one foot in bounds on a catch

basketball:
deeper three point line

baseball
wood bats instead of aluminum/composite

etc.

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a little more difficult than college.

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down without contact

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More difficult for whom?

I like having minor rules differences between the college and pro game. This, plus the one foot / two foot rule difference for receptions are the first things that come to mind. Having some minor differences adds interest to me for viewing both sports.

Another difference that I hope stays different is that I hope that the college game never adopts the NFL's lame new kickoff rules.

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i kinda like how it takes the officiating out of it. if the defender smacks the ankles of the ball carrier and he stumbles, but kinda re-gains his balance, then falls down, is he down by "contact?"

it's just easier to defend. if a player is down, he's down. no need to try to be a physicist and determine if the defender's contact made enough impact to force the defender down

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Exactly. I wish NFL had the college rule. If you're down, you're down. It's like stepping out of bounds.