(Slightly OT) Possibilities with one point safety
 

I was watching reruns on GSN of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" with my parents the other day when the question came up, "Other than zero, what is the fewest number of points that a team can score in a football game?"

The contestant answered two and was correct. I started yelling "ONE!" at the TV, and my parents looked at me like I had lost my mind. I then started trying to explain a one point safey, and then they REALLY looked at me like I was losing my mind!

I started thinking about this, and I guess that on most one point safeties, the team that just scored would be the team scoring the one point safety--meaning that a team scoring one point in a game would be impossible. The only conceivalbe way that I can think of a team's final score being one would be in NCAA if the defense got the ball and ran it back to the five yard line where they were hit and fumbled. Then, the original offense recovered and fumbled it out the back of the end zone.

Highly unlikely but possible! I would guess that if this ever happens, it will be the first time ever.

Canadians can have a game ending in 1-0. C'est le rouge!

Can't speak for NCAA but offense fumbling out of the back of the endzone is a touchback in FED.

Reference, please.

8-5-3c

This is assuming that at the beginning of the play the offense was on the opponent's 5-yd line, which wasn't clear. WHICH endzone he is talking about makes all the difference.

First off in FED, my scenario would not have happened since once the defense gained possession, the try would end.

My scenario comes from NCAA where the ball is still live once the defense possesses. My play involves the offense fumbling and the defense picking it up and taking it 90 yards the other way to the 5 yard line. They are then hit and fumbled, and the ball is recovered by the original offense. A player for the original offense is then hit and fumbles the ball backwards out his own end zone for a safety.

Highly unlikely I know, but it's the only scenario that I can think of where the team who just gave up the TD scores one point.

NFHS: a forfeited game ... the score becomes 1 to 0 unless of course there had been a score prior to the forfeit. Maybe that's what the game show folks were thinking or they really didn't read the rule book closely.

I'm glad you rethought your one point safety. Considering someone had just scored a TD is the prerequiste for this to happen.

I thought a successful kick after a TD counts for 1 point? :cool:

Is there a rules citation for a 1-point safety?

Did you read the original post?? here's the relevant part:
"Other than zero, what is the fewest number of points that a team can score in a football game?". If you are attempting a TRY, then you already scored 6 points.

8-1 (table), 8-3-3 and casebook play 8.3.3

But in NCAA, the other team can score 1 pt. on the try. A team could win by a forfeit too, but it's arguable whether the official 1-0 result actually has a team score a point in a game.

Robert

The question was not "What is the lowest score in a (non-forfeited) football game"
Answer: 2 - 0

The question was "What is the lowest score by one of the teams"
The score could end up being 6 - 1 in an NCAA game, correct? Therefore one of the teams score is 1.

No, a defense in NCAA that returns a try for a score gets two points, not one.

In NCAA a score of 6-1 is possible.

It is a little far fetched, but here are two scenarios:

1. Team A scores a TD. During the try, the Team A QB scrambles back 100 yards and is tackled in his own end zone. Team B would be awarded 1 point.

2. Team A scores a TD. During the try, there is a fumble and team B recovers. Team B attempts to run the ball back for a 2 point TD, however, the Team B player fumbles at the 5 yard. A team A player picks the ball up. While trying to evade a tackle, the team A player runs into his own end zone and is eventually tackled.

In the NFL this is not possible because the defense can never score during a try. Also, in the NFL, the try attempt ends whenever the defense gains possession.

Starman has it exactly right! Never seen it in 20+ years of working NCAA football in Europe but it could happen.

I think the most likely way for it to happen would be a series of penalties (a bunch of USC, most likely) would put the spot close to A's goal line, and then the result of the try's being a safety. Usually leading by a TD pending the try, team A in such a situation (and no longer being allowed to decline the try IIRC) would take a knee, but if it occurred early in a game that was expected to be high scoring they might try to score on the try and as a result give up a safety.

Robert