can anyone clarify this ruling?........

Where is the ball spotted when a runner steps out of bounds?

Saturday, a runner for ASU stepped out at the four yard line and dove for the pilon.

The ball was spotted at the 1 yard line.

A friend of mine said the ball is spotted where the ball is when the runner goes out of bounds. I say it should be spotted at the 4 where his foot touched the out of bounds line.

To me, this means that a runner could score a touchdown even if his foot touches the out of bounds line if the ball is over the goal line when he steps out. I don't think I have ever seen this called this way before.

If this is the rule, is it the rule in the NFL as well as college?

It's the rule in all football. The ball is spotted where the ball was at the time the player went out of bounds.

It's a little bit different when they dive, if they dive and end up out of bounds the ball is spotted where the ball crossed the OOB plane.

There was a play last season where the receiver tip-toed along the sideline and held the ball forward over the pylon before he finally stepped out around the 1. Ruling - TD. I think it may have been against the Jets.