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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: dammitbobby on February 15, 2026, 04:04:11 PM
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I'm working to write out answers/rationale/rules citations for every quiz I take, and I am need some clarity with one answer.
2/Goal @ B-3. B40 intercepts a pass in his own end zone and attempts to return the ball but does not get out of his end zone and is downed. B30 blocks A12 below the waist in the end zone after the interception.
Quiz correct answer: Safety, two points for Team A.
My answer: The result of the play is a touchback, with a foul committed by B in the end zone. By rule (10-2-2-2a), this foul is enforced from the succeeding spot (the touchback spot, or the 20) and will be half the distance to the goal line, B 1/10 @B-10, snap. Since this is a touchback, B will have the option to select hash location if they choose to do so.
10-2-2-2a verbiage:
2. Running plays when the run ends in the end zone after change of team possession (not on a try). (requirement met)
(a) Succeeding spot, when a foul occurs after a change of team possession (requirement met) in the end zone and the result of the play is a touchback. (requirement met)
What am I missing/not understanding about this rule/play?
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My answer: The result of the play is a touchback, with a foul committed by B in the end zone. By rule (10-2-2-2a), this foul is enforced from the succeeding spot (the touchback spot, or the 20) and will be half the distance to the goal line, B 1/10 @B-10, snap. Since this is a touchback, B will have the option to select hash location if they choose to do so.
10-2-2-2a verbiage:
2. Running plays when the run ends in the end zone after change of team possession (not on a try). (requirement met)
(a) Succeeding spot, when a foul occurs after a change of team possession (requirement met) in the end zone and the result of the play is a touchback. (requirement met)
What am I missing/not understanding about this rule/play?
You misunderstand in thinking that the penalty is enforced from the succeeding spot. Yes, the result is a touchback, but the succeeding spot is the BASIC SPOT, not the automatic enforcement spot. From the BS, you apply the 3 & 1 principle, and fouls by the team in possession behind the BS during the run are enforced from the spot of the foul. If the spot of the foul is in the end zone, the result is a safety.
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That makes sense.
I was getting hung up on the 'succeeding spot' verbiage in the rule and interpreting that a little too literally.
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That makes sense.
I was getting hung up on the 'succeeding spot' verbiage in the rule and interpreting that a little too literally.
Well, the B-20 IS, indeed, the succeeding spot. But, for penalty enforcement purposes, in this case, the succeeding spot is also the Basic Spot, and that is what we’re looking for in 10-2-2-d (“The following are basic spots for the various categories of plays:”)
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One more tonight that is not clicking for me.
3/5 @ B-20. B44 intercepts a forward pass at the B-3 and his momentum carries him into his end zone. While still in the end zone, he fumbles the ball. The balls rolls forward into the field of play, and in the scramble, A33 intentionally kicks the ball from the B-4 into the end zone and over the end line.
Quiz Answer:
B 1/10 @B-20
My answer:
The natural result of the play is a touchback. While B caused the ball to be in the end zone initially, momentum is off, because the ball did not remain in the end zone. Team A's illegal kicking does not change the status of the loose ball; it's still treated as a loose ball/fumble. Kicking a loose ball not in player possession expends initial impetus and creates new responsibility (8-7-2-b), so Team A is responsible for the ball being beyond the end line. The penalty for illegal kicking is enforced 10 yards from the succeeding spot , which is the touchback spot, the B-20. B 1/10 @B-30.
There is also an AR that appears to cover this exact situation, which also has the ball belonging to B at the 30 (8-6-1-III)
III. Third and five at the B-20. Defensive back B44 intercepts a forward pass in his end zone. While still in the end zone he fumbles the ball. It rolls forward, goes into the field of play, and in the scramble A33 kicks the ball into the end zone and over the end line. RULING: First and 10 for Team B at the B-30. The result of the play is a touchback, and therefore the basic spot for enforcement of the 10-yard penalty for illegally kicking the ball is the B-20. The touchback results because of the new impetus given by A33 kicking the ball. (Rules 2-16-1-a, 8-7-1, 10-2-2-d-2(a)
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The difference between the two plays is where the change of possession took place. If the result of the play is a touchback and the change of possession takes place in the end zone, the basic spot is the B20. So in the AR you'd enforce it from the B20 w/ B 1/10 @ B30. (10-2-2-d-2-a)
In the play you brought up the result of the play is a touchback but the change of possession took place in the field of play so the basic spot is the goal line. So B's choices would be to accept w/ B 1/10 @ B10 or decline and take the result of the play w/ B 1/10 @ B20. So the choice becomes obvious. (10-2-2-d-2-b)
Also, I've attached something that can help when working these 10-2-2-d-2 plays. It's a way to work them that attempts to cut through the rule book language but still get to the correct ruling. It's been vetted pretty well, but if anyone can find anything with it where it doesn't get you to the right ruling let me know.
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that is very helpful, thanks! It's clearer for me now.
The one aspect I'm still wrapping my head around, is why there is a difference between where the COP occurred, usually I can work out the logic for a particular rule, but this one, I can't see a rationale for having a distinction between the two, especially since the foul isn't related or even in the same play segment as the COP.