NCAA Touchback or Not?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by InsideTheStripe

That argument makes about as much sense as the offense arguing it should have been a TD.


.

They didn't have possession - different not related issue.

But - if the offense had possession and any part of the ball broke the plane it would be a TD would it not?

The ball becomes dead upon it becoming a TD does it not?

It wasn't a pass.

The offense caused it.

But it wasn't in possession of a player.

Not entirely logical though.

So if the ball is loose, crosses the goal line - impetus by the offense, and a player kicks it back out of the end zone so it goes out of bounds in front of the goal line - it isn't a touchback? And the offense retains possession? So the offense themselves could initiate the kick or push it out to keep possession?

Reward the goof?

I guess it's OK by rule.

Thanks.

(Happened in the Syracuse-Cincinnati game)

[Texas Aggie]

A plane does not mean that it works the same for all plays. The goal line plane isn't the same for an offensive player with possession as it is for a punt, for example. Other examples include the 10 yard free kick plane (Team B's restraining line) - the ball must not only cross the plane but also remain over there (or, at least, hit something over the line) for the kicking team to be eligible to recover the ball. I had a play years ago when the free kick cross the line, but didn't remain over there and was still in the air when Team A recovered it. Ruling -- Team B's ball.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

They didn't have possession - different not related issue.

But - if the offense had possession and any part of the ball broke the plane it would be a TD would it not?

The ball becomes dead upon it becoming a TD does it not?

It wasn't a pass.

The offense caused it.

But it wasn't in possession of a player.

Not entirely logical though.

So if the ball is loose, crosses the goal line - impetus by the offense, and a player kicks it back out of the end zone so it goes out of bounds in front of the goal line - it isn't a touchback? And the offense retains possession? So the offense themselves could initiate the kick or push it out to keep possession?

Reward the goof?

I guess it's OK by rule.

Thanks.

(Happened in the Syracuse-Cincinnati game)

I'm not well versed in NCAA rules, but this seems like an illegal kick to me.

I'm not sure how this would be enforced.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

They didn't have possession - different not related issue.

But - if the offense had possession and any part of the ball broke the plane it would be a TD would it not?

The ball becomes dead upon it becoming a TD does it not?

It wasn't a pass.

The offense caused it.

But it wasn't in possession of a player.

Not entirely logical though.

So if the ball is loose, crosses the goal line - impetus by the offense, and a player kicks it back out of the end zone so it goes out of bounds in front of the goal line - it isn't a touchback? And the offense retains possession? So the offense themselves could initiate the kick or push it out to keep possession?

Reward the goof?

You're calling it a reward, but consider that if an attacking team player got possession of the ball there, instead of knocking it away, his team would've gotten a TD, so I don't think their team is going to consider it a reward.

Similar "rewards" occur when a player of a team in possession of a loose ball muffs it out of bounds between the goal lines under other circumstances -- they get to keep possession, minus a down, if they have one to spare.