Baylor SMU

[Joe Stack]

4th down, field goal attempt by Baylor. Blocked by SMU, who clearly gains possession but fumbles. Baylor lineman recovers and falls down but "throws" pass forward. Flagged for illegal forward pass. Replay (correctly) shows Baylor player down before pass is thrown, thus no foul. Baylor gets possession since SMU possessed ball and lost it.

However, had there been an actual illegal pass thrown before the Baylor player was down, how do you enforce the loss of down penalty? Would it be second down? Or would the loss of down conflict with other rules -- most notably that the down is irrelevant because of legal possession by Team A for the second time in the down?

[JasonTX]

They lose the right to repeat the down.  It was 4th down so they lose that down.  Next down is 1st down.

[bossman72]

They lose the right to repeat the down.  It was 4th down so they lose that down.  Next down is 1st down.

That's not really correct.  Since there was a change of possession, loss of down means nothing (other than not extending the period).  Whoever gets the ball will have 1st and 10.  In this case, the IFP is enforced 5 yards from the spot of the foul and it will be Baylor 1st and 10.  There is no down to replay, so there is no down to "lose".

[NVFOA_Ump]

Isn't the answer to this clear in the applicable penalty statement (for Rule 7-3-2):

PENALTY [a-e] - Five yards from the spot of the foul; also loss of down if by Team A before team possession changes during a scrimmage down (A.R. 3-4-3-IV and A.R. 7-3-2-II) [S35 and S9].