Defender punches ball loose while out of bounds

[Imperial Stout]

B44 intercepts a pass, returning it in bounds close to the sideline.  A30 steps out of bounds, punches the football, causing A44 to lose possession.  The ball hits the ground in bounds at the A-30, and recovered by A8 at the A-28.

Its clear that a ball in firm possession by a ball carrier would still be live if touched by another player who is out of bounds (AR 4-2-3).  And of course, a loose ball touched by a player who is out of bounds would be declared dead.

At what point would the ball be considered not in the player's possession?  Would it be the moment the ball is punched, or some time shortly there after?  Even though a punch is a rather quick action, its hard to imagine the player still maintaining full control of the ball for the duration of that action. 

[ElvisLives]

Very, very technically, it might be possible for the player OB, after ‘punching’ the ball in the opponent’s possession, to still be touching the ball when it is actually no longer firmly held and in control of the BC. However, if there is no second action on the ball after it comes loose, any contact that is continued from the original contact should be considered as contact while the ball is in possession. It should stay alive and in play.

[Kalle]

Like Elvis said, there may be contact after the ball comes loose, but I very much doubt that a) anybody can see that in real time, and b) IR would have conclusive evidence to overturn.

[skt101]

Is this in reference to the OU/KU game this past Saturday?? B44 intercepts, A80 running out of bounds punches the ball out of B44's possession at the 35 yard line but the ball stays in bounds and is recovered by A at the 20 yard line.

[Imperial Stout]

Thanks everyone for the clarification.  Essentially here, unless there was some additional obvious contact, the entire act of jarring the ball loose would be considered to occur while the ball was in firm possession of the ball carrier. 

Is this in reference to the OU/KU game this past Saturday?? B44 intercepts, A80 running out of bounds punches the ball out of B44's possession at the 35 yard line but the ball stays in bounds and is recovered by A at the 20 yard line.

Yes, that was the play.  There were some other aspects of it, as B44 stepped out of bounds right after the ball was knocked loose.  The ball may have hit B44's leg after the ball came loose, and after he stepped out of bounds, but the answer to that is clear provided it can be seen, and noticed while examining everything else that was going on around the same time.