COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC
2012 CFO BI-WEEKLY RULES QUIZ 5--SOLUTIONS
For each of the following select the correct answer. There is only ONE correct
choice for each question. For any fouls that are not offset, assume that the penalty is
accepted unless it is declined by rule.
NOTE: References are to the NCAA 2012-13 Football Rules and Interpretations, in pdf
form on this CFO web site.
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1.
Fourth and 10 at the A-20. A21 is in deep punt formation to receive a snap. At
the A-6, A21 muffs the ball and, to prevent the defense from recovering, he bats the ball
backward. It goes into the end zone and over the end line.
a. Foul by A21, illegally batting the ball.
b. The result of the play is a safety.
c. Team B’s ball, first and goal at the A-6.
REFERENCES: 9-4-1, 8-5-1-a
COMMENTS: Batting the ball backward in the field of play is legal. Team A is
responsible for the ball going out of bounds from its end zone, so they are charged with
a safety.
2.
Second and nine at the A-30. At the A-38 runner A23 fumbles the ball which
strikes the ground and bounces high into the air. B45 leaps, grabs the ball while he is
airborne and returns to the ground touching the sideline at the A-40.
a. Forward fumble out of bounds. Team A’s ball, third and one at the A-38.
b. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the A-40.
c. First and 10 for Team A at the A-40.
REFERENCES: 2-4-3, 4-2-3, 7-2-4
COMMENTS: B45 does not recover the fumble because he does not come to the
ground in bounds. This is a forward fumble out of bounds, belonging to Team A at the
spot of the fumble, which is short of the line to gain.
3.
Third and 10 at the A-45. A88 catches a forward pass and fumbles at the B-45.
Teammate A63 recovers the ball and is tackled at the B-40. During the pass, B70 is
flagged for roughing the passer.
a. First and 10 at the B-25.
b. First and 10 at the B-30.
c. First and 10 at the B-40.
REFERENCES: 2-30-4, 9-1-9
COMMENTS: The penalty for roughing the passer is enforced at the end of the last run,
the B-40.
4.
Fourth and four at the B-10. B77 is in the neutral zone at the snap but does not
make contact. The ball carrier is tackled inbounds at the B-7.
a. First and goal at the B-5. Clock starts on the snap.
b. First and goal at the B-5. Clock starts on the Referee’s signal.
REFERENCE: 3-3-2-e-1
COMMENTS: Although the result of the play would give the ball to Team B on downs,
they will not next snap the ball. Hence the clock starts on the Referee’s signal.
5.
Fourth and 10 at the B-40. Receiver B30 muffs a punt at the B-15 and the ball
rolls into the end zone. A25 and B41 simultaneously recover the ball in the end zone.
a. Touchdown for Team A.
b. Touchback. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-20.
c. Touchback. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-25.
d. Safety. Two points for Team A.
REFERENCES: 6-3-6-b, 8-6
COMMENTS: The ball is in the end zone because of the kick by Team A. By rule the
simultaneously recovered kick belongs to the receiving team. Only touchbacks resulting
from free kicks place the ball at the 25-yard line.
6.
Fourth and 10 at the A-40. The punt crosses the neutral zone and A34 is the first
to touch the ball at the B-15. B23 recovers the ball at the B-17 and runs to the B-21
where he fumbles. While the ball is loose from the fumble B92 holds A46 at the B-18.
A37 recovers the ball at the B-20 and returns it across Team B’s goal line.
a. Touchdown for Team A. The penalty is enforced on the try or the kickoff.
b. Team A must decline the penalty in order for the touchdown to count.
c. No score. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-9.
REFERENCES: 5-2-4, 6-3-2, 10-2-2-d, 10-2-5
COMMENTS: The penalty is not enforced on the kickoff or try because it is not from a
personal foul. Team B will have the ball, either on the illegal touching, or if the penalty
is accepted, because they were in possession when the foul occurred. It is to Team A’s
advantage to accept the penalty.
7.
Fourth and five at the B-15. On a sweep play to the right, cornerback B27 is
legally blocked and is forced out of bounds at the B-11. While he is still out of bounds,
B27 grabs and tries to tackle ball carrier A33 at the B-11, but A33 breaks loose and steps
on the sideline at the B-5.
a. First and goal for Team A at the B-5.
b. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-11.
REFERENCE: 4-2-2
COMMENTS: Because he is touched by an out-of-bounds player A33 is not out of
bounds at the B-11.
8.
Second and 14 at the A-2. A13 is deep in his end zone when he throws a forward
pass intended for A26. A72 tries to catch the ball but muffs it high into the air. A26
catches the muffed pass and is tackled at the A-18. Both A72 and A26 are in Team A’s
end zone when they touch the ball.
a. Illegal touching by A-72. Second and 15 at the A-1.
b. Legal play. First and 10 for Team A at the A-18.
c. Illegal touching by A-72. The penalty results in a safety.
REFERENCES: 7-3-11, 8-5-1-b
COMMENTS: A72 is flagged for illegally touching a forward pass because his contact
with the ball is intentional. The penalty is enforced at the previous spot. Although the
foul takes place in the end zone, this is not a safety, because the penalty does not leave
the ball in the end zone.
9.
Third and 12 at the A-1. A25 is in his end zone when he receives the handoff
from A12. Still in the end zone, A25 fumbles the ball which goes into the field of play
and rolls out of bounds at the A-2.
a. Fourth and 11 at the A-2.
b. Fourth and 12 at the A-1.
c. Safety. Two points for Team B.
REFERENCES: 7-2-4-b, 8-5-1-a
COMMENTS: This is a forward fumble out of bounds. It is returned to the spot of the
fumble, in the end zone. In effect, it is as if the ball had never left the end zone.
10.
Fourth and 16 at the A-30. Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation. Nose
guard B55 blocks snapper A57 immediately after he snaps the ball. Punter A18 muffs
the snap and recovers the ball at the A-17 while grounded.
a. No foul because the ball was not kicked.
b. First and 10 for Team A at the A-45.
c. First and 10 for Team A at the A-32.
REFERENCES: 9-1-14, 10-2-2
COMMENTS: The action against the snapper does not depend on the ball being kicked,
but it is a foul if Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation. The penalty is enforced at the
basic spot, which in this case is the previous spot.
Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Editor
NCAA Football Rules Committee
October 31, 2012