Next Question of the Day (1-28-26)

[ElvisLives]

(Include possession, down, distance, yard line, time, period, score, foul (as applicable), play clock duration, game clock status).

2/5, B-45, 8:00 (2), A=17, B=14.
A11 advances to the B-30, where he is contacted legally, and fumbles the ball. B99 recovers the ball while on his feet and advances to the B-40, where he fumbles the ball. A80 recovers the ball while lying on the ground at the B-40.
Ruling:

[dammitbobby]

The natural result of the play is a fumble recovered by A80 at the B-40. There are no fouls on the play. The initial recovery of A’s fumble by B broke A’s continuity of downs, so A’s ultimate legal possession of the ball at the end of the play will result in 1/10 A from the B-40. While there was a change of possession (multiple, actually), B will not next put the ball in play, so GC will be on the RFP signal, and since there is not an administrative stoppage, PC 40.

[ElvisLives]

Exactly.
I was most interested in the status of both clocks. Right on.

[Thagrosh]

Why is the GC stopped at all?

Isn't this outside the two-minute timeout?

[ElvisLives]

Why is the GC stopped at all?

Isn't this outside the two-minute timeout?

This is why we have these discussions.
Those who know me know that my actual NCAA career ended some years ago. I still work games using NCAA rules - but with some “exceptions.” One of those exceptions is the NCAA timing rule in which the game clock is not stopped to award a first down to Team A by play except with less than 2-minute to play in the 2nd and 4th periods. So, in all honesty, since I have not actually worked a game in which the clock keeps running on a first-down inbounds, managing the clock after an “A-B-A” had not occurred to me to be different than it was before the rule change. But, by you raising this point, I see that it is. So, yes. The game clock would simply continue to run, and the play clock would be 40 and start automatically. Although it surely has, I, personally, haven’t yet seen an example of this happen in NCAA games. I would hope the crew (and GCO) would recognize this and not “reflexively” signal for the clock to stop.
Thank you for this ‘catch.’ This is how we all ‘get better,’ no matter how long we’ve been at this.

[Morningrise]

The game clock would simply continue to run, and the play clock would be 40 and start automatically. Although it surely has, I, personally, haven’t yet seen an example of this happen in NCAA games.

Same here. A-B-A is very rare. Since the rule change I don't remember seeing it once, be it in person or on TV.