Timing

Question 1

Pass complete or incomplete:
First and 15 on the B-28. Receiver A86 tries to make a catch of a forward pass at the B-15 in the center of the field with 10:00 showing on the game clock. The pass is ruled complete and the game clock continues to
run. Replays show that the ball hit the ground before A86 got control of
it.

Answer 1

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was complete. Overturn to incomplete pass, A 2-15 on B-28 (Rules 12-3-2-a and 12-3- 6-b). No adjustment to the game clock since there is 10:00 remaining

Question 2

Runner out of bounds:
First and 10 on the A-20. Ball carrier A22 is ruled down at the 50 with 1:55 on the game clock in the fourth quarter. A22 stepped out of bounds at the A-25 when there was 2:03 on the game clock.

Answer 2

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A22 stepped out of bounds. Overturn to player out of bounds, A 2-5 on A-25. No adjustment to the game clock since there is more than two minutes remaining when the player stepped out of bounds. The game clock starts on the snap (Rules 12-3-3-g and 12-3-6-b).

Question 3

Line to gain:
Third and 2 on the A-45. Ball carrier A22 is ruled down at the A-46 with 9:50 on the game clock. Replays show that the ball was at the A-47 when he was down.

Answer 3

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A22
made the line to gain. Overturn to first down, A 1-10 on A-47. No adjustment to the game clock since there is 9:50 remaining. The game clock starts on the referee’s signal (Rules 12-3-3-e and 12-3-6-b).

Question 4

Change of possession:
First and 10 on the A-20. Ball carrier A22 is ruled down at the A-25 but the ball came loose and was recovered by B77 at the A-28 with 9:50 on the game clock. Replays show that A22 lost the ball before he was
down.

Answer 4

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A22 fumbled or was down. Overturn to fumble, B 1-10 on A-28. No adjustment to the game clock since there is 9:50 remaining. The game clock starts on the snap (Rules 12-3-3-d and 12-3-6-b).

Question 5

Game clock at end of half:
Second and 10 on the B-38. With 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter, QBA1 throws a pass to receiver A86 at the B-27 near the sideline. The officials rule complete and time expires on the play. Replays show that after completing the catch A86 stepped out of bounds with 2 seconds remaining on the game clock.

Answer 5

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was complete and whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. A 1-10 on B-27, reset game clock to 0:02 and start on the snap (Rule 12-3-6-c).

Question 6

Game clock at end of half:
Third and 10 on the A-45 with 0:12 on the game clock, Team A has no timeouts. QBA1 completes a long pass to receiver A86 at the B-15 where he is tackled in bounds and the game clock expires. Replays show that after completing the catch A86 was down with (a) 3 seconds remaining on the game clock; (b) 2 seconds remaining on the game clock.

Answer 6

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was complete and whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. In (a), A 1-10 on B-15, reset game clock to 0:03 and start on the referee’s signal (Rule12-3-6-c). In (b) since there is 0:02 remaining, the clock will start on the referee’s signal, and Team A has no timeouts remaining, the half is complete. If Team A has a timeout remaining, they may elect to take the timeout and restore 0:02 to the game clock.

Question 7

Resetting game clock after review:
Second and 12 at the B-40. Passer rolls out and is under a heavy rush. About to be tackled at the B-45, as he goes down he throws a forward pass that is intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The ruling on the field is a touchdown on the interception return. Replay reviews the play and rules that the passer’s knee was down at the B-45 before he released the pass.

First quarter. When the passer’s knee is down the game clock reads
12:00. When the interception returner crosses the goal line the game
clock reads 11:48.

Answer 7

RULING: Team A’s ball, third and 17 at the B-45. No adjustment to the game clock. The game clock starts on the referee’s signal.

Question 8

Resetting game clock after review:
Second and 12 at the B-40. Passer rolls out and is under a heavy rush. About to be tackled at the B-45, as he goes down he throws a forward pass that is intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The ruling on the field is a touchdown on the interception return. Replay reviews the play and rules that the passer’s knee was down at the B-45 before he released the pass.

Fourth quarter. When the passer’s knee is down the game clock reads 0:55. When the interception returner crosses the goal line the game clock reads 0:43.

Answer 8

RULING: Team A’s ball, third and 17 at the B-45. The game clock is adjusted to read 0:55 and the 10-second runoff is applied (assuming neither team takes a timeout to avoid the runoff). The game clock is set to 0:45 and starts on the referee’s signal.

Question 9

Resetting game clock after review:
Second and 12 at the B-40. Passer rolls out and is under a heavy rush. About to be tackled at the B-45, as he goes down he throws a forward pass that is intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The ruling on the field is a touchdown on the interception return. Replay reviews the play and rules that the passer’s knee was down at the B-45 before he released the pass.

Fourth quarter. When the passer’s knee is down the game clock reads 1:10. When the interception returner crosses the goal line the game clock reads 0:58.

Answer 9

RULING: Team A’s ball, third and 17 at the B-45. Adjust game clock to 1:10 and start the clock on the referee’s
signal (no runoff).

Question 10

Restoring time when game clock expires:
Third and Goal on the B-7. Team A is trailing by 4 points with 7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. QBA1 throws an incomplete pass into the end zone and time expires on the play. Replays show that when the ball hit the ground there was 1 second remaining on the game clock.

Answer 10

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was incomplete and whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. A 4-G on B-7, reset game clock to 0:01 and start on the
snap (Rule 12-3-6-c).

Question 11

Restoring time when game clock expires – time out called:
Second and 10 on B-37. Team A has one time-out left and is trailing by 3 points with 8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. QBA1 completes a pass to eligible receiver A81 at the B-28 who is tackled and immediately signals for a time-out but time expires on the play. Replays show that the line judge had signaled for the clock to stop with one second remaining.

Answer 11

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was complete and whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. A 3-1 on B-28, reset game clock to 0:01 and start on the
snap. There must be video evidence of the official’s signal in order to put time back on the clock in this situation (Rule 12-3-6-c).

Question 12

Restoring time when game clock expires – field goal:
Fourth and 10 on B-34. With the score tied, Team A’s field goal attempt lands short in the end zone untouched as time expires. Replays show that when the ball touched the ground there was 1 second remaining on the game clock.

Answer 12

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the field goal attempt was no good and whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. B 1-10 on B-34, reset game clock to 0:01 and start on the snap (12-3-6-c).

Question 13

Game clock at end of half – 10-second runoff:
Second and 10 on the B-30. With 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Team A is behind by three points and has one timeout remaining.
Receiver A80 catches a pass and runs to the B-23 where he is hit and loses the ball with 7 seconds left on the clock. B34 picks up the loose ball and returns it to the 50 as time expires. Replays show that A80’s left
knee was down before he lost control of the ball.

Answer 13

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A80 fumbled or was down. Overturn to A 3-3
on B-23, reset game clock to 0:07 and a 10-second runoff is applied. Team A may elect to use its final timeout to avoid the runoff and the game clock will start on the snap (Rules 12-3-3-c and 12-3-6-b). If Team
A is out of timeouts the half is over. When an overturned ruling results in a running clock under one minute of either half, and there is no other reason the clock would have stopped (foul, injury, or helmet off), a
10-second runoff applies.

Question 14

Game clock at end of game – 10-second runoff:
Second and 20 on the B-40. With 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Team A is behind by four points and has one timeout remaining. Receiver A80 catches a pass at the B28 and runs out of bounds at the B15 as time expires. Replays show that A80’s left knee was down when he caught the pass, and there were 5 seconds remaining on the game clock at that point.

Answer 14

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A80
was down after he caught the pass. Overturn to A 3-8 on B-28, reset game clock to 0:05 a 10-second runoff is applied. Team A may elect to use its final timeout to avoid the runoff and the game clock will start on
the snap (Rules 12-3-3-c and 12-3-6-b). If Team A is out of timeouts the game is over. When an overturned ruling results in a running clock under one minute of either half, and there is no other reason the clock
would have stopped (foul, injury, or helmet off), a 10-second runoff applies.

Question 15

10-second runoff – Foul during down:
A 3/G @ B-12 with 0:50 left in the fourth quarter. Team A trails by four points and has no timeouts remaining. Runner A22 is hit at the B-5 and loses the football. B56 recovers the ball and runs to the 50 and is downed
with 0:39 remaining. The officials rule fumble. Replays show A22’s right knee was down before the ball came loose with 0:45 remaining. (a) B96 is called for offside at the snap; or (b) B34 is called for a block below the waist during B56’s run.

Answer 15

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A22 was down prior to losing the football. (a) A 3/G @ B-7,
reset clock to 0:45, no runoff as the foul would have stopped the clock. (b) A 1/G @ B-2.5, reset clock to 0:45 and run 10 seconds. If a live ball foul is administered as a dead ball foul as a result of a replay review the
10-second runoff rule applies.

Question 16

Game clock at end of quarter:
Third and 10 at the B-25, near the end of the first quarter. Team A’s forward pass falls incomplete and the game clock shows 0:00. Replay sees that one second remained on the game clock when the pass hit the ground.

Answer 16

RULING: The replay official must determine competitive effect, in this case based on weather conditions (e.g., strong wind). In such a case the replay official will stop the game and restore the time. If there is no competitive issue, the replay official should not stop the game.

Question 17

Significant Clock Error:
Team A’s punt bounces untouched into Team B’s end zone for a touchback when the game clock reads 7:35 in the first quarter. After the ball is dead, the officials on the field do not notice that the game clock continues to run. When the referee declares the ball referee’s signal for play the game clock reads 6:22.

Answer 17

RULING: Although there is no play to review, the replay official may interrupt the game before the ball is
snapped and correct the clock error. The game clock should be reset to 7:35, B 1-10 on B-20 (Rule 12-3-7).

Question 18

Game clock at end of half – significant timing error:
In the second or fourth quarter with 0:03 showing on a running game clock, QB A12 takes the snap and immediately spikes the ball to the ground as the game clock goes to 0:00. The referee announces, “Please
put one second back on the game clock.” The replays clearly show that the game clock superimposed on the replay monitor read 0:00 before the ball hit the ground

Answer 18

RULING: Reviewable under significant timing error. This is considered to be an significant timing error as it determines whether the half is over. The game or half is over.

Question 19

Game clock at end of half – significant timing error:
Late in the second or fourth quarter, A55 snaps the ball just as the clock goes 0:00. QB A12 throws a pass to A89 for a touchdown near the sideline. Replays clearly show that the game clock superimposed on
the replay monitor read 0:00 before the ball was snapped.

Answer 19

RULING: Reviewable under significant timing error. This is considered to be an significant timing error as it determines whether the half is over. The game or half is over.

Question 20

Instant replay review time:
2nd and goal from the B5, midway through the first quarter. Team A throws a pass to A88 in the back of the end zone that is ruled a touchdown on the field. Replay stops the game for review, but 2 minutes into the review, the replay official cannot find a view that definitely shows A88’s foot inbounds.

Answer 20

RULING: Replay should conclude the review and let the
play stand. The expectation is that the replay official will not exceed two minutes to complete a review; however, if there are multiple aspects to review or an end-of-game impact, there is no stated time limit.

Question 21

Instant replay review time:
Last play of the game with Team A trailing by 5 points. 2nd and goal from the B5, Team A throws a pass to A88 in the back of the end zone that is ruled a touchdown on the field. Replay stops the game for review, but 2 minutes into the review the replay official cannot find a view that definitively shows A88’s foot inbounds

Answer 21

RULING: Replay should conclude the review and let the play stand unless TV is working to refine or locate additional views (i.e., an expansion view of the feet in relation to the end line). The expectation is that the replay official will not exceed two minutes to complete a review; however, if there are multiple aspects to review or an end-of-game impact, there is no stated time limit.

Question 22

Restoring time when game clock expires – free kick:
Fourth and 10 on the B-27. With a) 6 seconds remaining in the 2nd Quarter; or b) with 6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Team A’s field goal attempt is ruled good and time expires on the play. Replays show that the ball cleared the cross bar by several yards but when it hit the ground behind the goal post there was 1 second remaining on clock.

Answer 22

RULING: a) Reviewable play, but the clock is not adjusted since there is no significant competitive impact. The half is complete (Rule 12-3-6-c). b) Reviewable play, if the score differential is 8 points or less. Reset the game clock to 0:01.

Question 23

Game clock at end of game:
Second and Goal on the B-10. Team A is trailing by 14 points with 8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. QBA1 throws an incomplete pass near the sideline and time expires on the play. Replays show that
when the ball hit the ground there was 1 second remaining on the game clock.

Answer 23

RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the pass was incomplete, but not whether there should be time remaining on the game clock at the end of the play. Since A was behind by more than 8 points, replay does not put time back on the clock in this situation. Game over (Rule 12-3-6-c).

Question 24

Runner in or out of bounds:
Second and 15 on B-40. With 0:10 remaining in the 2nd quarter receiver A80 catches a pass at the B-34 and runs toward the sideline. He is tackled at the B-30 and ruled out of bounds with 0:02 on the game clock. Replays show A80’s left knee hit the ground in bounds before he touched the sideline

Answer 24

RULING: A 3-5 on B-30 (0:02, snap). Whether a runner was down in bounds or out of bounds at the same spot is not reviewable, unless the half should or should not have ended due to an obvious error.

Question 25

Runner in or out of bounds :
Second and 15 on B-40. Team A is trailing by 3 points and out of time outs with a) 0:50 remaining in the 4th quarter; or b) 0:10 remaining in the 4th quarter, receiver A80 catches a pass at the B-34 and runs
toward the sideline. He is tackled at the B-30 and ruled out of bounds with a) 0:42 on the game clock; or b) 0:02 on the game clock. Replays show A80’s left knee hit the ground in bounds before he touched the
sideline.

Answer 25

RULING: a) A 3-5 on B-30 (0:42, snap). b) Game over, run 10 seconds. Whether a runner was down in bounds or out of bounds at the same spot is not reviewable. Replay cannot review whether the clock
should have stopped or kept running unless a correct ruling of down in bounds would have ended the half. If another aspect of the play was reviewable (e.g., spot in relation to the line to gain), the replay official would properly rule whether the player was in bounds or out of bounds along with all clock implications.