Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I saw this happen in a college game over the weekend and I guess I had never thought of the scenario, but here is what happened:

BC has a 3rd and 5, the running back runs up the middle for 10 yards and is tackled. After the play is over, a BC lineman plows into an NIU defender and is flagged for a late hit. So the officials awarded BC a first down, moved the ball backwards 15 yards for the penalty, but said it would be 1st and 10 instead of 1st and 25 because the penalty happened after the play. Is that correct? Or should it have been 1st and 25?

Since it's a dead ball foul, it doesn't affect the first down yardage in this case.

Of course, had it been second or third down, yes, that yardage gets added on towards a first down. If it's a dead ball foul that happens after a first down is picked up or fourth down is shut down, then it doesn't affect the yards to go. Kind of like a penalty on a punt return. Or maybe like a penalty after an interception or a fumble.

There was a similar but different situation in Clemson vs. Duke. Duke had a late hit called after Clemson was short on the fourth down. So, it seems like Clemson should have gotten a first down. But, since it was a dead ball foul on fourth down, I guess the change of possession already occurred for a turnover on downs. Kind of like a runner either scoring before or after the third out is made.

It doesn't happen very often so it might be one of those things that doesn't come to the attention of the rules committee. That's my guess, anyway. Since it happened twice in the same weekend, maybe they'll examine it for next year. It really doesn't make much sense in either case, IMO. But what do I know? I'm just trying to enjoy football.

One thing that I was reminded of during this first weekend, and it happens each year, is that I'm scratching my head about a lot of rules and calls.