What is the rule regarding a QB fumble?

[nunna yo bizness 1687]

So, I know the call was overturned by review, but I'm mystified by the original call.  Unless I misunderstood something or am an idiot (both possible) it sounded like there is a rule that a QB fumble in the backfield can't be advanced if recovered by an offensive teammate.  Is this a new rule?  If not, how the hell have I missed it through decades of watching college football?

[bluto 4932]

~Always been the case that a fumble can’t be advanced by a dif off player on 4th down. There was a play in the 70s? that led to the rule… or maybe the Holy Roller wasn’t the reasoning and it’s always been around. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by bluto

[SarkAfterDark 1689]

1 minute ago, nunna yo bizness said:

So, I know the call was overturned by review, but I'm mystified by the original call.  Unless I misunderstood something or am an idiot (both possible) it sounded like there is a rule that a QB fumble in the backfield can't be advanced if recovered by an offensive teammate.  Is this a new rule?  If not, how the hell have I missed it through decades of watching college football?

It’s a 4th down thing to prevent intentional fumbles and it’s not specific to QBs.

[6th Street 6412]

Fumblerooski is a legal play since QB never had possession

[Huckleberry 32985]

2 minutes ago, 6th Street said:

Fumblerooski is a legal play since QB never had possession

Incorrect. On the fumblerooski the QB receives the snap and intentionally places the ball on the ground for a pulling OL to pick up.

[msucolt45 4062]

So, I know the call was overturned by review, but I'm mystified by the original call.  Unless I misunderstood something or am an idiot (both possible) it sounded like there is a rule that a QB fumble in the backfield can't be advanced if recovered by an offensive teammate.  Is this a new rule?  If not, how the hell have I missed it through decades of watching college football?

The rule for that play wasn’t a fumble, but a “muff”, as the QB never had possession. Earlier poster is correct on advancing a “fumble” on 4th.

Anyone can advance a “muff” to include an OL, as long as it was behind the LOS, as this play was. It’s basically like a backwards pass.

Hook’em!!!

[TwiceHorn 31495]

So, is it accurate that an offense can never advance its own fumble?  I guess this rarely comes up because a fumbling offense just wants to get the ball and smother the fucker and isn't looking to advance it usually.

I had forgotten that there was a set of rules evolving over fourth down plays because of fumblerooski type plays.

[Huckleberry 32985]

1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

So, is it accurate that an offense can never advance its own fumble?  I guess this rarely comes up because a fumbling offense just wants to get the ball and smother the fucker and isn't looking to advance it usually.

I had forgotten that there was a set of rules evolving over fourth down plays because of fumblerooski type plays.

It's legal for a teammate to advance a fumble on any other down. 

[Captain Ron 12883]

33 minutes ago, nunna yo bizness said:

So, I know the call was overturned by review, but I'm mystified by the original call.  Unless I misunderstood something or am an idiot (both possible) it sounded like there is a rule that a QB fumble in the backfield can't be advanced if recovered by an offensive teammate.  Is this a new rule?  If not, how the hell have I missed it through decades of watching college football?

It was the Holy Roller and the rules were changed in the off season to prevent such a play. 

To the OP’s original question - on 4th down if there is a fumble by an offensive player, only that offensive player can recover and advance it*. It is to prevent a player from fumbling on n purpose when they are going to fail to gain a first down with basically nothing to lose. 
 

* any player can recover the fumble, but the ball goes back to the point of the fumble. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Captain Ron

[Dennis Taylor 18830]

1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

So, is it accurate that an offense can never advance its own fumble?  I guess this rarely comes up because a fumbling offense just wants to get the ball and smother the fucker and isn't looking to advance it usually.

I had forgotten that there was a set of rules evolving over fourth down plays because of fumblerooski type plays.

Offense can advance its own fumble.  The only real stipulation is that if it's 4th down only the fumbler can advance it. 

Thanks alot Stabler 

[Pato del Muerto 52510]

4 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

So, is it accurate that an offense can never advance its own fumble?  I guess this rarely comes up because a fumbling offense just wants to get the ball and smother the fucker and isn't looking to advance it usually.

I had forgotten that there was a set of rules evolving over fourth down plays because of fumblerooski type plays.

Anyone can advance a fumble if it’s not 4th down. On 4th down, only the guy that fumbled it can advance it. 

[msucolt45 4062]

It's legal for a teammate to advance a fumble on any other down. 

Yes, except for 4th down, as also any play past the LOS. Once ball is possessed on 4th, the play is dead at the spot.

Hook’em!!!

[Captain Ron 12883]

19 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Incorrect. On the fumblerooski the QB receives the snap and intentionally places the ball on the ground for a pulling OL to pick up.

Hence why Nebraska ran it on 3rd down in the 1984 Orange Bowl. 

[Huckleberry 32985]

This discussion is related to the late hit after 4th down penalty in the Duke/Clemson game. 4th down has its own rules in a lot of ways, both during the play because it's the offense's last chance and immediately upon the end of the play because possession officially changes instantly if they don't reach the line to gain.