Confused on a Touchback Call

[Rick Vietti]

I was visiting Illinois last week and I had the chance to catch a playoff game from the town I used to live in. Below is the play and the resulting call. It did not seem right to me, but I have only officiated football for two years and I wasn't quite sure when asked by others. Your response would be appreciated.
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Team A has the ball on their 30 yard line. A1 sweeps right and is stripped by B1 (defensive back).

B1 heads for his goal line running by the sideline. Team A player hits B1 at about the 2 yard line. The ball pops out of B1's hand and goes through the back of the end zone without anyone in possesion of the ball.

The white hat signaled a touch back and put the ball on the 20 yard line. (Here is the question part of the play) He gave the ball back to Team A on the 20 yard line.

Now I can understand the touchback and placing the ball on the 20 but shouldn't Team B have gotten the ball?

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[ABoselli]

Nope. Think of the same play, only A is on the 5 and A1 fumbles through the end zone and over the end line. You wouldn't give it back to A at the 20 and say, "here - try again". Fumbling into the end zone and having it recovered by the opponent or having it go OB or over the end line results in a touchback and it's the other teams ball. Kind of a big disincentive for fumbling into the endzone.

[Rick Vietti]

Thanks - That makes a lot of sense.

[Ed Hickland]

Originally posted by Rick Vietti

Team A has the ball on their 30 yard line. A1 sweeps right and is stripped by B1 (defensive back).

B1 heads for his goal line running by the sideline. Team A player hits B1 at about the 2 yard line. The ball pops out of B1's hand and goes through the back of the end zone without anyone in possesion of the ball.

The white hat signaled a touch back and put the ball on the 20 yard line. (Here is the question part of the play) He gave the ball back to Team A on the 20 yard line.

Now I can understand the touchback and placing the ball on the 20 but shouldn't Team B have gotten the ball?

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Very basic, who has possession of the ball?

At the time of the fumble the ball is in player and team possession of B. It remains in team possession of B as it crosses the endline of B's end zone. Therefore, it is a touchback.

If the ball had not been possessed by B and had bounded into the end zone and over the endline it would have been a safety.