Illegal kick?

[BoomerSooner]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I think you're looking for 5-1, which refers to a series of downs as being awarded a team. If it's awarded, then it may be declined.

Back when the try was described as awarded, it too could be declined. However, now NCAA & Fed rules say a team "shall" put the ball in play in those situations.

If I remember correctly, wasn't the change made in response to teams electing to not even attempt a try once the clock had expired due to the possibility that B could, if the margin was 1 or 2 points, win or tie the game on a returned try attempt? If so, this reasoning would logically extend to the OP and show where I was wrong.

Not to go too far down another path, but if the margin of the score 20 points instead of 2 points, would the enforcement change since the probability of A winning on a colossal mistake from B goes from minuscule down to 0% due to the greater difference in score? My hope is that A won't want any part of the untimed down and declines the penalty, but based on this thread and further reading, I think it is up to A to decline it. I could only find that a try attempt is not attempted if the points will not affect the outcome of the game. Since this isn't a try attempt, the ball would have to be put in play if the penalty is accepted even if the score differential is 20 or 50 points.