Rules review video: Kicking off from the 5, rushing the field, and the process of starting a replay review

2024 Media video #14

National coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw posted his weekly video breaking down rules and interpretations from week 13 of the college football season. Before discussing plays for this week, Shaw went over things to be thankful for when it comes to college football, specifically the graduation rate of the football student athletes.

Specifically, the graduation rate for FBS players is 82%, which is 12-13% higher than the graduation rate of the general student bodies at those institutions.

• Replay process. This is in response to questions the committee has received on the replay process. Here we had a run toward the goal line where the runner reached for the line as he was being tackled. The SJ spotted him just short of the end zone. Replay did not stop the game to review the play, and that is because replay only intercedes when it either can not confirm the call on the field or when there is a potential for an overturn. They review every play and use the best camera angle to determine quickly if a stoppage is needed.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. The offense snapped the ball with four seconds left and ran a play that ended after time in the half had expired. After the play ended, the officials threw a flag for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul against the defense. As the teams were heading to the locker room, two additional unsportsmanlike fouls were called against the same team. Since all three unsportsmanlike fouls were against the same team, all three penalties stacked on the second half kickoff spot and moved the kickoff to the kicking team’s 5-yard line. Interestingly, if a fourth unsportsmanlike foul had been called against the same team, the NCAA rule that a kicking team’s restraining line cannot be moved closer to the kicking team’s goal line than the 5-yard line would have applied. If a fourth foul had been called, they would have enforced the 15-yard penalty from the succeeding spot after the kickoff.
• Momentum exception. During a long punt, the receiver retreated to his 3-yard line, caught the ball, and his momentum carried him into the end zone, where he was tackled. Because the player caught the ball inside his 5-yard line and his original momentum carried the ball into the end zone where he was tackled, the officials placed the ball on the 3-yard line where the receiver originally caught the kick.
• Extra-point scoring. The offense lined up to attempt an extra point after a touchdown. The defense blocked the kick, recovered the ball, and ran it back for a 2-point touchdown. Remember, if either team scores a touchdown on a try, they get 2 points. If the offense makes a field goal, they get 1 point. Finally, if either team scores a safety on a try, they get 1 point.
• Targeting. On a long pass play up the middle, the receiver caught the ball and took a big hit from a defender. While the receiver was defenseless and there was forcible contact to the head/neck area, there were no indicators of targeting in the hit from the defender (no launch, defender’s head is up, and defender is playing the ball).
• Rushing the field. With 7-seconds to play in the game and the offense up by 5 points, the QB took the snap, rolled, and threw the ball high and away from the field to run out the clock. The fans rushed the field while the referee attempted to confirm with replay that time had indeed expired. The clock should have continued to run until the pass hit something or the ground. Replays clearly showed the ball landing in the stands with 1 second left on the game clock. Since it was fourth down and the ball was turned over to the defense, they were entitled to one last play with 1 second on the clock. Game management had to clear and reset the field for this to occur. By rule, the fans are not subject to penalties (delay of game/unsportsmanlike conduct) for this early field rushing, but this will be discussed in the offseason.