Quote:
Originally Posted by Welpe
NFL is different, the feet matter. NCAA is the same as NFHS in that the feet don't matter.
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In the given example, you are correct that location of the player or his feet doesn't change the status of the ball in NCAA if the ball remains on the ground at the 1 yard line.
If the ball is in the air, however, the status of the feet can come into play in NCAA as a player can reach over the goal line and prevent a touchback if the ball has not yet touched the ground in the end zone. NFHS declares the ball dead and a touchback as soon as it breaks the plane of the goal line, whether it is rolling, bouncing or still in flight from the kick. NCAA requires the ball to touch the ground before being a touch back.
The only thing I'm missing is whether in NCAA a player reaching over the goal line from the end zone and touching ball in the air (bouncing or in flight) creates a touchback because the ball is immediately considered to be in the end zone. I couldn't find the rule reference to support that, but my understanding was that in NCAA, a ball on the ground is considered to be at that location but a ball bouncing or in the air is considered to be at the location of the player when he touches it (or where he was last touching the ground if he is airborne when touching the ball).