Please take a look at this play from the 2021 college football rules review #9.
Play 4:19 of the video "Helmet off"
Question: If there were no flags on this play what is the ruling??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgpgpXj5-j4&t=318s
Actually, this is a very good question, as it actually raises a greater question.
With or without a foul, the
natural result of the down is A, 1/G, B-5. However, the penalty for A85 participating without a helmet is 15 yards (Personal Foul). But the real question is the enforcement spot and POSSESSION.
The helmet comes completely off A85 as he is going to the ground, and is almost simultaneous to the recovery of the ball by B15. But the foul for continuing to participate doesn't really begin until A85 regains his feet and moves to re-engage in the action, which is clearly after the possession by B15. Thus, the foul occurred during B15's running play portion of the down, so the Basic Spot for that foul is the end of B15's run, i.e., the spot of the fumble (B-4). Although Team A (actually, A85) legally recovered the ball at the B-6, acceptance of the penalty for A85's personal foul for continuing to participate would give the ball back to Team B, and would place the ball 15 yards from the B-4, to the B-19, where B would be awarded a series. B, 1/10, B-19, snap (25).
Had A85 began to participate without his helmet clearly BEFORE B15 gained possession, then the foul would have been during the kick play portion of the down, and the enforcement could have only been at the previous spot, with the down repeated, since the dead-ball did not belong to Team B. A, 4th down, after a 15-yard (1/2 the distance to the goal?) penalty from the previous spot, snap (25).
