re: Can we talk about the 1H fumble situation in LSU-Bama?

Am I right in thinking the main issue is in defining the parameters of the ball between fumble and recovery. It seems as though there is an assumption of retained possession by the ball carrier until a full recovery is made. Perhaps there should be a “no man’s land” of sorts while the ball is free. Would that allow the Bama player, in this instance, to have no bearing on the LSU recovery, as his touching was essentially moot?