Re: College Football FBS/FCS discussion thread
Originally Posted by
IndyBison
If both teams commit live ball fouls during a down (other than unsportsmanlike or non-player fouls), it is considered a double foul and the penalties offset. An exception to that is if there is a change of possession and the team in possession at the end of the down did not commit their foul before they gained that last possession. If that happens, that team has the option to decline their opponent's penalty to retain possession. This is unofficially referred to as the "clean hands" rule.
Based on your description the foul by the Bison was PRIOR to the change of possession so the exception would not apply. The Bison did not get the ball with clean hands. So both the referee and your official friend are right. The timing of the foul by the Bison is critical in a situation like this because it determines if there is a double foul situation.
A good example would be if the offense was guilty of holding prior to an interception, and the defense was guilty of a block in the back during the return. The defense could decline the holding penalty, but the block in the back would be enforced. The defense would keep the ball first an 10 after the enforcement of the block in the back penalty. There are rare exceptions where the team last in possession would accept the penalty because the other option might be worse for them.
Thank you and to the others that responded.
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