Rules review video: Goal line extended, kicks over the uprights, and fumbles through the end zone

2024 Media video #5

National coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw posted his weekly video breaking down rules and interpretations from week 4 of the college football season.

Shaw said he’s gotten a lot of questions around unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Penalizing unsportsmanlike acts is a point of emphasis for the officials, and they are receiving constant feedback to make sure they are not being overly technical, while still penalizing actions that cross the line. There is zero tolerance for taunting, or anything directed at an opponent, as well as anything considered demeaning to the game such as simulating firing a weapon.

There has been an average of 2 unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in every 3 games, which is very slightly up from last season. Shaw also reminded that if a player or coach gets 2 unsportsmanlike fouls in one game, they are ejected.

• Goal line extended. The receiver catches the ball at around the 5-yard line and pushes towards the endzone and extends the ball past the goal line, but on the out of bounds side of the pylon. After discussion, the officials correctly rule this a touchdown because the receiver’s arm hit the pylon and the ball broke the plane of the goal line extended prior to him going out of bounds.
• Fumble or incomplete pass. On 3rd & goal, the quarterback’s arm is hit as he throws causing the ball to come loose. The ball is then recovered by the defense, who then fumbles on their return, which is recovered by the original offense. Replay determined that though the arm was moving forward, he did not have firm control when his hand was moving forward. It’s important to note that the rules language was changed for plays like this, so the officials focus on the hand rather than the arm. This resulted in a new series, 1st & 10 for the offense, from the dead ball spot of the second fumble.
• Roughing the passer/targeting. Shaw described two similar plays that occurred in different games. In the first play, the defender makes contact with the head of the quarterback which results in a roughing the passer flag. Though there was helmet-to-helmet contact, there was no launch by the defender and most of the contact came from his arm. As a result, there was no flag for targeting. On the second play, the defender clearly lowers his head to launch at the quarterback, making forcible helmet-to-helmet contact. Roughing the passer was called on the field, and targeting was properly added by replay.
• Field goal above the uprights. A field goal attempt traveled high and over the right upright. The official under the upright signaled that the attempt was unsuccessful. By rule, if the kick is above the uprights, it must clearly be in between the two uprights and not directly above one. Field goals can only be reviewable if they are kicked below the top of the uprights.
• Safety. The offense is backed up at their own 2-yard line. The QB takes the snap and hands off to the running back who charges forward but is tackled around the goal line. The officials ruled a safety on the field, which was confirmed by replay because the entire ball did not get out of the end zone (completely clear of the goal line).
• Fumble through the back of the end zone. In overtime, the offense had 1st & goal on their first overtime possession after the opposing team scored on their possession. The running back takes the handoff and dives for the end zone, but the ball came out around the goal line and rolled out of bounds. The ruling on the field was a fumble before the runner broke the plane which rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, which replay let stand. Interesting quirk about this situation: when the original call was made, fans of the home team rushed the field and took down the goalposts. If the play was overturned, the home team would’ve been responsible for either fixing the goalposts, or providing a portable goal to be used.