Half the distance to goal rule???

[RussellPeters]

I thought I knew how this rule worked but maybe it’s just in the NFL?

Watching the Penn State/Iowa game. PSU had ball on Iowa 17 and then a PI 15 yard penalty was called on Iowa and ball was placed on Iowa 2. I thought it would be half the distance to the goal and ball would be placed at the 9 yard line. But I guess that’s not how it works in college? In NFL it would have been placed on the 9 as a half the distance rule right? In college it’s 15 yards yes? Just wanted some clarification. Thx.

 

[AlistairCookie]

Both rules are stupid and they always have been There's no reason why a 15 yard penalty shouldn't be enforced to the most amount of yards possible If you commit a 15 yard penalty and the offense is on the 12, it should go to the 1.

 

[JohnnyMags]

Agree

 

[Unique06]

Yes in college its 15 yards and NFL is half the distance. Just like for pass interferences NFL is at the spot of the foul, college is only 15 yards no matter how far the PI occurred.

 

[RussellPeters]

Yes in college its 15 yards and NFL is half the distance. Just like for pass interferences NFL is at the spot of the foul, college is only 15 yards no matter how far the PI occurred.

Thanks

 

[lostinamerica]

I have a friend who often complains about the half the distance to the goal rule as a major pet peeve.

Suppose it is 1st and goal at the 2 yard line. If the defense is penalized for offsides, it is half the distance to the 1. If the offense is then penalized for a false start, the ball is moved back to the 6. He thinks that if the first infraction was for only one yard, then a similar infraction after that should be for the same distance, and move the ball back to the 2.

I am fine with the current rule, but I agree that my friend has a valid point.

GL

 

[VegasKnows]

For college football, the penalty is the lesser of 15 yards and the spot of the foul. If the penalty occurs in the end zone the ball is placed on the 2 yard line.

In this case the ball was on the 17, the penalty occurred at the 1 yard line, 15 yards walked off.

If the PI was at the 5 yard line, ball gets spotted at the 5.

 

[RussellPeters]

For college football, the penalty is the lesser of 15 yards and the spot of the foul. If the penalty occurs in the end zone the ball is placed on the 2 yard line.

In this case the ball was on the 17, the penalty occurred at the 1 yard line, 15 yards walked off.

If the PI was at the 5 yard line, ball gets spotted at the 5.

Got it! Makes sense now. Thanks.