NCAA : Ohio v E Carolina onside kick

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

Ohio kick off travels 10 yds in the air and caught by K2. Apparently legal play in NCAA??

And illegal in the NFL.

What is the logic in it being legal in one, but not the other?

[APG]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

And illegal in the NFL.

What is the logic in it being legal in one, but not the other?

NFL rule the same as NCAA. Only difference is NCAA extends the protections through a kick that is driven directly into the ground and goes into the air. NFL does not:

A.R. 6.5 ONSIDE KICK—KICKER CATCHES

Team A tries an onside kick which goes into the air and is caught by A2 at the A47: a) No Team B player was near the ball; or b) B2 could have caught ball.
Rulings: a) A’s ball, first-and-10 on A47. Legal catch and recovery. b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A32. Interference with the opportunity to catch a kick.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by APG

NFL rule the same as NCAA. Only difference is NCAA extends the protections through a kick that is driven directly into the ground and goes into the air. NFL does not:

A.R. 6.5 ONSIDE KICK—KICKER CATCHES

Team A tries an onside kick which goes into the air and is caught by A2 at the A47: a) No Team B player was near the ball; or b) B2 could have caught ball.
Rulings: a) A’s ball, first-and-10 on A47. Legal catch and recovery. b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A32. Interference with the opportunity to catch a kick.

I only knew the rule even existed at all b/c in Indy's famous 2003 21 point comeback vs. Tampa Bay, the NFL said the officials erred in not penalizing the Colts on their on-side kick recovery that never hit the ground.