Missed Field Goal Question
 

I need some clarification as to the rule on a missed or blocked field goal that passes the line of scrimmage. When does it become a dead ball? I know that the defense can return it and it's live if the defense touches it; see Leon Lett. Is it up to the officials to blow it dead?

NFHS rules: a FG attempt is just like a punt. If it comes to rest and R makes no attempt to recover, it's dead. If it crosses the GL, it's a touchback.

Others can answer for NCAA, NFL.

It becomes dead under the same conditions any other kick from scrimmage becomes dead. See for example the wrong-way kick return thread (Towson) going concurrently.

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

This is a deflected kick. It's a live ball, but Team A needs to "give yards", although it's possible that the play is blown dead if A can't at all "give yards".

So, as in the other codes, it becomes dead under the same circumstances any other kick from scrimmage would.

That's the point -- all the major codes make no distinction as to the termination of the down based on the type of kick from scrimmage it is. The codes have different provisions from each other regarding what makes a kick from scrimmage dead, or play during a down following a kick from scrimmage, and they have different provisions from each other regarding possession and spot for the next down, but they all agree that the end of the down is the same regardless of whether it was a place kick, drop kick, or punt.

Even during a try, in Fed a kick becomes dead when (besides other possibilities) it becomes obvious it will not score a goal; if it's a punt, that condition is immediately obvious!