in college football, why when a player run with the ball and hit the ground untouched, the play consider dead?

Question

I wish it was like the NFL.

Answer 1

Me too but I think they do it too protect from injuries, but I find it pathetic that a guy makes a great catch but is suddenly off balance and no one is around that they can't get up and run!

Answer 2

It's a rule in college football that the player with the ball is considered down if one knee touches the ground. Unlike the NFL the player with the ball does not need to be touched by an opposing player to be considered down.

So if a quarterback slips and falls while taking a 3 step drop into the pocket, and his knee touches the ground; he is considered down and the ref blows the whistle ending the play.

It's a rule.

Answer 3

It is simply one of the rule differences between the two levels. I think it may stem from the fact that the college game was always heavily based on the running game and it just made it more fair.

Also, because the skill levels of the players are a bit wider at the college level, they didn't want some kid who sucked so much that he just slipped getting leveled by an All-American linebacker.


Uh ..... ryan c, you couldn't be more wrong.

Answer 4

it just is one of the different rule kinda like you only need one foot in bounds to make a completion

Answer 5

Because that's the way the rule reads.

Answer 6

player must be down by contact....just like the NFL