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Honest rules question: Is this a catch?

Posted on 8/29/26 at 1:22 pm
Posted by CoachFranWasHere
College Station, TX
Member since Jul 2021
860 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 1:22 pm
Not sour grapes, just confused by what appears to be a bad ruling.

NCAA rules seem to state:

"In American college football (NCAA), a player must maintain complete and continuous control of the ball throughout the entire process of contacting the ground, even if they are going out of bounds.

According to NCAA Rule 2-4-3, if a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact), they must maintain control during the process of contacting the ground. This stipulation applies whether the player is in the field of play or in the end zone, and specifically for a player attempting to make a catch at the sideline and going to the ground out of bounds.

Key nuances include:

Loss of Control: If the player loses control of the ball and it touches the ground before they regain control, it is not a catch.
Regaining Control: If the player loses control but regains it inbounds prior to the ball touching the ground, it is a catch.
Simultaneous Loss: If the player loses control while simultaneously touching the ground with any part of their body (other than feet), or if there is doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch.
Ground Contact: A slight movement of the ball, even if it touches the ground, will not be considered a loss of possession if the player maintains control; the player must actually lose control for it to be ruled a loss of possession. "

TAMU - UT 2024

The ball is moving before contact with the ground, during contact with the ground, and appears to have been lost after contact with the ground. This portion of the play was not reviewed. Foot position inside the endzone was the focus. See 48:53 for the most obvious movement.

I thought that any juggling of the ball out of bounds ruled it incomplete?

Posted by Veritas
Member since Feb 2005
12094 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 1:23 pm to
TRO for you
Posted by cattus
Member since Jan 2009
16359 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 1:28 pm to
Yes
Posted by CoachFranWasHere
College Station, TX
Member since Jul 2021
860 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 1:30 pm to
quote:

Yes


What makes it a catch?
Posted by RockyRococco
Jacksonville FL
Member since Aug 2021
2318 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:34 pm to
catch
Posted by RockyRococco
Jacksonville FL
Member since Aug 2021
2318 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:35 pm to
one foot and full control
Posted by Hugh McElroy
Member since Sep 2013
20322 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:48 pm to
I had forgotten that play, but folks aren’t watching the play to the end. He loses control before regaining control out of bounds.

Watch to the end, as he’s still going down, db dislodges the ball.

But it’s a tough call. I don’t blame them much for getting it wrong.
This post was edited on 8/29/26 at 2:50 pm
Posted by John somers
Los Proxima
Member since Oct 2024
2133 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:50 pm to
I dont remember this happening when TAMU played UT.
Posted by Old Sarge
Dean of Admissions, LSU
Member since Jan 2012
63793 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:57 pm to
Definitely not a legal catch, did we challenge it? I can’t remember
Posted by Boom33
Member since Jul 2026
1679 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 2:58 pm to
It was a catch and a TD.

The ball was knocked out way too late, and he took multiple steps before falling down.

Posted by CoachFranWasHere
College Station, TX
Member since Jul 2021
860 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 3:36 pm to
No, we didn't challenge.
Posted by GrizzlyWintergreen
Member since Jun 2025
3425 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 3:41 pm to
Thats a catch. Any bobbling came after multiple steps were taken
This post was edited on 8/29/26 at 3:42 pm
Posted by CoachFranWasHere
College Station, TX
Member since Jul 2021
860 posts
Posted on 8/29/26 at 3:49 pm to
So if he had planted his feet, and fallen with his toes inbound, and the ball moved, it would've been incomplete?
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