Again, from another forum, with different rules. Know the set you are working.
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For NCAA:
B44 legally catches a legal punt and advances to the A-5, where he fumbles. A99 attempts to recover the ball, but he is unsuccessful. However, his contact with the ball (no striking or kicking involved) causes the ball to travel into A's end zone, where it rolls to a complete stop inbounds, and no player of either team attempts to secure it.
Ruling:
By rule change a few years ago, the ball belongs to the team last in legal team possession, and is returned to the spot of the fumble, with the next down per rule. So, in this case, the ball belongs to Team B, 1/10, at the A-5.
Prior to the rule change, the result of the down was a touchdown. But, with the foolishness of many players, today, who make 'hot dog' actions by dropping the ball as they THINK they are crossing the goal line, but they actually lose possession of the ball in the field of play, the ruling of a touchdown seemed to be inequitable. So, they changed the rule to give the ball to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble (or the passing team at the spot of a backward pass), if the ball came to rest in the end zone and no player attempted to secure it. Coaches need to remind all of their players to never let a loose ball just sit there on the ground. At least fall on it, and let the officials decide who gets the ball after that.
You can't help stupidity.
Note that impetus is from the fumble, not from the 'muff' of the ball by A99. A 'muff' can only impart impetus to a ball that has come to complete rest.
Purely personally, I would have voted to make these actions qualify for a touchback (for impetus by the attacking team), or a safety (for impetus by the defending team). But, they didn't ask me.
