See what you think.
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1. 4/5 @ B-25. Team A is in formation to kick a field goal and Team B has 11 players in its formation. Just before the ball is snapped a 12th Team B player runs onto the field. The ball is snapped, and Team A’s field goal is successful.
RULING:
A, kickoff, A-35, free kick timing (25), score 3-points for Team A and decline the penalty, OR, A, 1/10, B-20, snap (25), accept the penalty at the previous spot (Team A refuses the points from the successful field goal attempt), which yields a first down for Team A at the B-20.
2. 1/10 @ A-40. The ball is ready for play with the play clock and game clock running, and the umpire (or center judge) is in his regular position. Team A quickly replaces some players with substitutes, gets set for the required one second and snaps the ball. The umpire (or center judge) is attempting to get to the ball to allow the defense to match up, but he is unable to prevent the snap. A44 gains 5-yards on a quick handoff up the middle.
RULING:
A, 1/10, A-40, ready (25). No play. The game officials must stop the action and re-set the ball at the succeeding spot and allow Team B to make substitutions. The Referee will warn the Team A head coach that any subsequent attempts to snap the ball before Team B has had the opportunity make substitutions in response to Team A substitutions will result in an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul on Team A. The play clock is set to 25 seconds, and both clocks are started on the Referee’s signal. If this is the second (or more) occurrence of this tactic, Team A will be penalized 15 yards from the succeeding spot.
3. 3/10 @ B-30. It is late in the 4th quarter and both teams are out of timeouts. Team A, behind by 5 points, completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. Just after the play, B27 falls to the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:05 on the game clock.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-15, 0:05 (4), snap (40).
By 2024 Bulletin 2, Team A has the option of a 10-second subtraction, even though the game clock was stopped for the first down (as well as the injury). Behind in score, Team A will obviously decline the 10-second subtraction, and the game clock will start on the snap. The play clock will be set to 40-seconds, and will start on the referee’s signal.
4. 3/10 @ B-30. It is late in the 4th quarter and both teams are out of timeouts. Team A, behind by 5 points, completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. Just after the play, B27 falls to the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:15 on the game clock.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-15, 0:15, ready (40). Because the game clock was stopped for the first down and the injury, and the game clock has more than 10-seconds remaining in the 4th period, Team A does NOT have an option for a 10-second subtraction. The game clock will start on the Referee’s signal.
5. 3/10 @ B-30. It is late in the 4th quarter and both teams are out of timeouts. Team A, behind by 5 points, completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:05 on the game clock.
RULING: Game over. Because the game clock was stopped for both the first down and the injury, by 2024 Bulletin 2, Team B has the option of a 10-second subtraction, which they will accept, and the game will be over. Team A does not have a time out remaining to avoid the subtraction.
6. 3/10 @ B-30. It is late in the 4th quarter and both teams are out of timeouts. Team A, behind by 5 points, completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. At the snap, Team A’s formation was not legal. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:05 remaining on the game clock.
RULING: Game over. (I don't know why I put that in there. I was in a hurry, I guess. Totally non-sensical, if I then state that the game clock will start on the referee's signal.) 3/15, B-35, ready (25). Because the game clock was stopped to complete a penalty and the injury, there is no option of a 10-second subtraction. Following completion of the penalty, and removal of the injured player from the field, the game clock will start on the referee’s signal.
(Before the NCAA had the C2P comms, we would not have run the play clock, at all. I don’t know why they would with less than 15 seconds, but I simply don’t know. Can they have C2P in these situations? I don’t know. No skin off our noses, I suppose, since game officials have no jurisdiction on that. But I am curious about the play clock, since they want it to be run when there is more than 15.)
7. 4/10 @ 50. A98 punts the ball and B21 settles under the ball at the B-15 to receive the punt, but muffs the punt and it rolls free. A80, in an attempt to recover the ball, accidentally kicks it at the B-16 and the ball rolls back into Team B’s end zone. There is a scramble for the ball, and B21 recovers in his own end zone.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-20, snap (25).
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ACCIDENTALLY KICKING THE FRICKIN’ BALL! Kicking it is deliberately striking it with the lower leg or foot. If he didn’t do that, then it is just a muff of the ball. In this case, the impetus remains with the kick, and the result of the down is a touchback.
8. 2/5 @ A-48. Quarterback A12 drops back in the pocket and sets up to pass. Just as he releases the ball he is hit by defensive end B98 who drives his shoulder into A12’s knee. The pass is caught by A84 who is tackled after a 12-yard gain to the B-40.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-25.
Roughing the passer, adds to the end of the run, with a first down.
