CFB Rules

[NCHawker]

I just saw Oregon benefit from a facemask by USC it happened on the 22 or so. They placed the ball at the 11. So...when do they apply half the distance vs the fulll hardage?

 

[uihawk82]

Well except for pass interference in the end zone and in other situations when the foul is inside the 30 yard line when a 15 yard penalty occurs on the defense it will be half the distance. When the ball is inside the 10 yard line a 5 yard penalty will be half the distance.

That way a huge burden is not put on the defense say when a facemask occurs at the 16 yard line the offense doesnt just get the full 15 yards down to the one yard line. And also with 15 yard penalties the non offending team also gets the benefit of a first down with the yardage walked off

 

[RyDogg]

Other than pass interference in the end zone, no penalty is supposed to be more than half the distance to the goal. Which would be inside the 30 for a 15 yd penalty, inside the 20 for a 10 and inside the 10 for a 5.