Nebraska/Illinois - player loses helmet

[MBK]

With 1:18 left in the first quarter, IL #99 was flagged for face masking the NB QB. IL #5 participated in the tackle and his helmet came off during the play. However, he wasn't required to leave the game since the ref announced "#5 does not have to leave the game for one play as the helmet came off as the result of a foul."

I'm a HS official and know that according to NFHS rules, #5 would need to come out of the game since the helmet coming off wasn't "directly attributable to a foul by an opponent." So, I looked up the NCAA rule and found "If during the down a player's helmet comes completely off, other than as the direct result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down."

Since the foul was by #5's teammate, shouldn't he have been required to leave for one play?

[ElvisLives]

If the facts are as you say, then, yes, he should not have been allowed to participate in the next down. The rule applies regardless of other events that may have happened during the down. However, are you certain he was not fouled (with a helmet foul of some kind)?

[MBK]

Face masking against IL was the only foul stated by the ref or enforced on the play.