nukchebi0 wrote:
OrangeHound wrote:
nukchebi0 wrote:
Ah yeah, I rewatched the video and from one angle it was pretty clear he lost it before crossing the goal line. With that said he did catch it and have possession before he was hit so why was it incomplete rather than a fumble?
It was a play with a penalty, so whatever happens on the field is immaterial.
Without the penalty, instant replay would have ruled it a reception and a fumble, recovered by OU in the endzone (overturning the incomplete pass that was ruled on the field). And, Oklahoma would have the ball at the 20.
And, with regard to FEOS' comment, many times referees will rule a pass incomplete if it comes out after a hit like that. Perhaps this is for mercy. That is, receivers have to "control" the catch and referees want to see sufficient time with control of the ball after the hit. So if the play is bang-bang (catch-hit) resulting in a loose ball, they'll call it incomplete rather than complete and fumble.
Play with a penalty doesn't mean the result is necessarily ignored. Defensive offsides or pass interference, for example.
True ... the offense can accept the "play" rather than the "penalty".
My point, in case I was not clear, is that the only two possibilities for this play will be bad for the offense.
(1) If the ruling on the field stands, it is an incomplete pass - the penalty would be a better choice.
(2) If instant replay changed the on-the-field ruling to a catch, then it is also a fumble (the ball came out at the 1 yard line) with a recovery by the defense - the penalty would be a better choice.
Therefore, there whatever the call might be or become is immaterial because the penalty will be accepted in either case.