Can you return muffed punt

American football The result of a play usually a kickoff or punt in which the ball passes out the back of the end zone or a team otherwise gains possession of the ball in their own end zone. A touchback can arise if the defensive team causes a fumble in the opposing team's end zone. After the touchback, the next scoring drive starts at the opposing team's yard line. A punt or field goal that is blocked and remains behind the line of scrimmage can be picked up and advanced by either team.

At the college level, the ball is returned to the yard line or the previous line of scrimmage, whichever benefits the defensive team. No, because it is illegal to advance an onside kick.

There would have to be a return and a fumble, which is a different situation. The receiving team scores every once in a while. The ball will take a big hop and a player will catch it in full stride and be gone before the kicking team has a chance to react.

Does punting count as turnover? A punt may be a controlled turnover , done because of the perceived benefit in field position, but punting is giving the ball to the other team. This includes interceptions and lost fumbles along with punts, turnovers on downs, and missed or blocked field goals. Can you return a muffed punt? Asked by: Dr. Furman Kuphal IV. Why can't a muffed punt be advanced? What happens when a punt goes into the endzone?

Can the kicking team catch a punt? Does an onside kick count as turnover? High school College Sprint Women's Professional. Football ball Helmet Shoulder pads Uniform number. Utility player Triple-threat man Skill position Game manager.

Blocking below the waist Block in the back Chop block Clipping Delay of game Encroachment Equipment violations Face mask False start Helmet-to-helmet collision Horse-collar tackle Illegal contact Illegal formation Illegal forward kick Illegal forward pass Illegal hands to the face Illegal motion Illegal participation Illegal shift Illegal substitution Illegal touching Illegal touching of a free kick Illegal use of hands Ineligible receiver downfield Intentional grounding Holding Leaping Neutral zone infraction Offside Palpably unfair act Pass interference Personal foul Roughing the kicker Roughing the passer Roughing the snapper Sideline infraction Spearing Time count Tripping Unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fumble Interception Muffed punt Turnover on downs. First down Three-and-out Fourth down conversion. Touchdown celebration Gatorade shower. Officials Penalty flag Chain crew. Categories Articles needing additional references from September Articles with invalid date parameter in template All articles needing additional references American football terminology.

Universal Conquest Wiki. Minnesota returned it for a TD that would have won the game. UM complained, citing their national titles, so the refs acquiesced and made a rule that a muffed punt couldn't be advanced. A couple Minnesota holding calls later and UM won the game. They had to keep the rule from that point forward because they didn't want people to think they were showing favoritism.

Funny how it came back to bite them in the ass 65 years later. Probably more truth to that than you may think, Fritz Crisler used to run the NCAA rules committee and whenever a rule was changed it often was to benefit his school.

I've stated an unpopular opinion for years that I don't think the offense should be able to advance a fumble they recover. Isn't that the "holy roller" rule? Only player that can advance the fumble is the person who fumbled it if the fumble was forward?

Edit: Just looked it up. The holy roller rule only applies after the 2 minute warning or a fumble on 4th down. Not unpopuilar with me. We actually had that rule when we played as kids. We all got tired of forcing a fumble to watch someone on the same team pick up it and score, which happened a lot playing 4 on 4.

I'll never get over the Bike Hart fumble recovery for a first down after we made Ryan Mallet crap his pants in Shoulda been a ten yard loss instead they advance a fumble for a first and go on to win the game. A punt. So, only one team is allowed to touch the ball first.