College Football Clock Rules

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mkAz

mkAz

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I keep seeing lots of posts about Kill's "questionable" use of a time out in the fourth quarter and how some seem to think it was unnecessary as the clock was already stopped because the runner went out of bounds. Well, guess again, it's just another way that college football rules differ from NFL rules.

Deadspin actually gives a good explanation of the rule, it states: when players go out-of-bounds the clock will start on the referees signal as opposed to starting on the snap of the ball. Except for in the final two minutes of each half when the clock will stop until the snap of the next ball.

http://deadspin.com/5041480/explaining-the-new-college-football-clock-rules
 

mkAz said:
I keep seeing lots of posts about Kill's "questionable" use of a time out in the fourth quarter and how some seem to think it was unnecessary as the clock was already stopped because the runner went out of bounds. Well, guess again, it's just another way that college football rules differ from NFL rules.

Deadspin actually gives a good explanation of the rule, it states: when players go out-of-bounds the clock will start on the referees signal as opposed to starting on the snap of the ball. Except for in the final two minutes of each half when the clock will stop until the snap of the next ball.

http://deadspin.com/5041480/explaining-the-new-college-football-clock-rules
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification, as the third timeout had me pulling my hair out yesterday.
 

mkAz said:
I keep seeing lots of posts about Kill's "questionable" use of a time out in the fourth quarter and how some seem to think it was unnecessary as the clock was already stopped because the runner went out of bounds. Well, guess again, it's just another way that college football rules differ from NFL rules.

Deadspin actually gives a good explanation of the rule, it states: when players go out-of-bounds the clock will start on the referees signal as opposed to starting on the snap of the ball. Except for in the final two minutes of each half when the clock will stop until the snap of the next ball.

http://deadspin.com/5041480/explaining-the-new-college-football-clock-rules
Click to expand...

Reason #476 why Jerry Kill knows more about football than anyone that posts on this site, except mkAz. You get a 24-hour pass.
 

I recant my criticism of the official call yesterday. I wasn't criticizing Kill for taking the timeout as I saw the ref signal that the clock would continue to roll. My gripe was the official ruling, which appears to have been correct.
 

Of course it is correct - because fans HAVE NO CLUE about what is going on (except for me, of course). I had to explain to about 20 people around me the rule so they would stop screaming for Kill to be fired due to the timeout. Finally, I was able to settle everyone down. They were also shocked to learn that the rule change has been in effect for 3 YEARS already. This is far from the first time I have had to correct a group of fans outraged by something when in reality its just some rule they have no idea exists.

Next time I'm not going to say anything because I'm starting to realize it's really not worth my time and energy to constantly correct ignorant people around me anymore.
 




In the first half we had a penalty with under a minute left and had to use a timeout to save ten seconds. What's the specific rule on that?
 

josh087 said:
Of course it is correct - because fans HAVE NO CLUE about what is going on (except for me, of course). I had to explain to about 20 people around me the rule so they would stop screaming for Kill to be fired due to the timeout. Finally, I was able to settle everyone down. They were also shocked to learn that the rule change has been in effect for 3 YEARS already. This is far from the first time I have had to correct a group of fans outraged by something when in reality its just some rule they have no idea exists.

Next time I'm not going to say anything because I'm starting to realize it's really not worth my time and energy to constantly correct ignorant people around me anymore.
Click to expand...

Amen.. I have done the same thing on multiple occasions.. Finally I just stand up on my seat and remind people that 'This isn't the NFL.. If you want that, go to the Dump' It's very frustrating in the least (on top of the inept running game we have).
 



Nokomis said:
In the first half we had a penalty with under a minute left and had to use a timeout to save ten seconds. What's the specific rule on that?
Click to expand...

Don't know the specifics.. but I think if it's in the final 2 minutes of a half and an offensive penalty occurs, then they run 10 seconds off the clock. Unless of course, you call a TO. That nulls the run off and you just get the yardage penalty.

I may be off on some details.. I'm just too lazy to look it up for the actual verbiage.
 

Special timing starts in the last 2 minutes of each half with stopping the clock on out of bounds plays until the next snap. Outside of 2 minutes it starts when ball is spotted. At 1 minute the 10 Second rules go into place. If you have an penalty with the clock running and the penalty stops the play (False start, intentional grounding) there is a 10 second run off if the team does not have a time-out left. I did not see the play.
 

Speaking of rules

When is college football going to cash the check for more advertising and add a 2 minute warning? Seems like with all the attempts to squeeze every last dime out of the product, this would be a no-brainer.

Plus, I like having that stoppage - for both halves.
 

Nokomis said:
In the first half we had a penalty with under a minute left and had to use a timeout to save ten seconds. What's the specific rule on that?
Click to expand...

I believe the intent of that rule was to keep teams from committing a penalty to stop the clock.
 



I am glad that there is no 2 minute warning but I do see your point re: NCAA taking the money.

The penalty re: 5 guys on the punt not being down field took me by surprise. what was that all about?
 

wait!what? said:
The penalty re: 5 guys on the punt not being down field took me by surprise. what was that all about?
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Penalty was for 5 players in the offensive backfield not for them failing to get down-field following the punt (apologies if I misread what you were saying).
 

GoAUpher said:
Penalty was for 5 players in the offensive backfield not for them failing to get down-field following the punt (apologies if I misread what you were saying).
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no apology needed it was i was looking for. Noted.
 

Formo said:
Don't know the specifics.. but I think if it's in the final 2 minutes of a half and an offensive penalty occurs, then they run 10 seconds off the clock. Unless of course, you call a TO. That nulls the run off and you just get the yardage penalty.

I may be off on some details.. I'm just too lazy to look it up for the actual verbiage.
Click to expand...

Here is the actual verbiage of rule 3-4-4(aka) 10 second runoff. It is a new rule this year because of what happened last year in the Music City Bowl Between Miami and Tennessee.

Rule 3 / Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions FR-53
10-Second Subtraction from Game Clock
ARTICLE 4. a. With the game clock running and less than one minute
remaining in either half, if a player of either team commits a foul that causes
the clock to stop, the officials may subtract 10 seconds from the game clock at
the option of the offended team. The fouls that fall in this category include but
are not limited to:
1. Any foul that prevents the snap (e.g., false start, encroachment, defensive
offside by contact in the neutral zone, etc.);
2. Intentional grounding to stop the clock;
3. Incomplete illegal forward pass4. Backward pass thrown out of bounds to stop the clock;
5. Any other foul committed with the intent of stopping the clock.
The offended team may accept the yardage penalty and decline the 10-second
subtraction. If the yardage penalty is declined the 10-second subtraction is
declined by rule.
b. The 10-second rule does not apply if the game clock is not running when the
foul occurs or if the foul does not cause the game clock to stop (e.g., illegal
formation).
c. After the penalty is administered, if there is a 10-second subtraction,
the game clock starts on the referee’s signal. If there is no 10-second
subtraction, the game clock starts on the snap. d. If the fouling team has
a timeout remaining they may avoid the 10-second subtraction by using a
timeout. In this case the game clock starts on the snap after the timeout.
 

Another CFB rule that no one seems to understand:

Punt into the endzone.

In the NFL,the ball can be "saved" if the player or ball doesn't touch down. In CFB, the ball is dead the second it nicks the front of the goal line.

Don't know how many times I've heard the crowd "boo" when a player didn't "save" the ball.
 

highwayman said:
Another CFB rule that no one seems to understand:

Punt into the endzone.

In the NFL,the ball can be "saved" if the player or ball doesn't touch down. In CFB, the ball is dead the second it nicks the front of the goal line.

Don't know how many times I've heard the crowd "boo" when a player didn't "save" the ball.
Click to expand...
Take it you were watching the SEC game on ESPN last night. There are about 200 different rules between, HS, College, and the NFL.
 

What does the rulebook say if there are < 10 seconds left, a team commits a penalty, and they have no timeout to prevent the runoff? Is the game over?
 

Catechol said:
What does the rulebook say if there are < 10 seconds left, a team commits a penalty, and they have no timeout to prevent the runoff? Is the game over?
Click to expand...

I believe that is correct, if the penalty is one that stops the clock. If the penalty was on an incomplete pass, the game would not be over, as the clock would have stopped anyway. The idea is that a team shouldn't get a free play just because they committed a penalty.
 

Catechol said:
What does the rulebook say if there are < 10 seconds left, a team commits a penalty, and they have no timeout to prevent the runoff? Is the game over?
Click to expand...

Yep, game over.
 

RodentRampage said:
I believe that is correct, if the penalty is one that stops the clock. If the penalty was on an incomplete pass, the game would not be over, as the clock would have stopped anyway. The idea is that a team shouldn't get a free play just because they committed a penalty.
Click to expand...

Yep, I just looked it up. If it's one of the specific penalties that applies to the 10 second rule, it will end the game if there are < 10 seconds left (and the penalized team has no timeout to save the runoff). Kind of the opposite of the "game can't end on a defensive penalty" axiom - the game CAN end prematurely due to an offensive penalty.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
Take it you were watching the SEC game on ESPN last night. There are about 200 different rules between, HS, College, and the NFL.
Click to expand...

Went to a HS game last week--kick-offs cannot be returned from the end zone...makes touchbacks easier...
 

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