Expert: Vic Winnek - 9/3/2011

Question
Lets say its Georgia vs Auburn in overtime...auburn is up 7 georgia has the ball...Georgia throws an interception but during the return the Auburn defender fumbles the ball and Georgia recovers...is the game over or since the Bulldogs recovered do they still maintain possesion...Thank you

Answer
Mark
Thank you for your question. In answering the question let us not refer to a specific college team let's use A and B. A is the offensive team and B is the defensive team.  Your question is an A-B-A change of possession type play that occurs in Extra Periods [Over Time].  

The answer to your question is governed by Rule 3-1-3-e which provides: "Each team retains the ball during a possession series until it scores or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team possession."

Simply stated in your question Team A in extra periods during th efirst possession Team A passes the ball. Team B intercepts and returns the interception.  During Team B's return/run Team B fumbles and Team A recovers.  In that instance Team A's possession and serries is over.

Since Team B was up by 7 points we can assume it was the second serries and therefore the game is over.  If it was the first serries then Then Team A's possion is over and Team B gets to start their serries.

Here are some examples to illustrate the rule on change of possession:
- During the first possession series of a period, Team B intercepts a forward pass, or intercepts or recovers a fumble or a backward pass, and does not score a touchdown. RULING: Team A’s possession series is ended and Team B starts its series. Team B becomes Team A when the referee declares the ball ready for play.

- During the first possession series of a period, Team B gains possession and then loses possession to Team A, which fails to score a touchdown. RULING: Team A’s possession series is ended, and Team B begins its possession series.

- Other than on the try, Team B scores a touchdown after intercepting a forward pass, or intercepting or recovering a backward pass or fumble. RULING: Period and game are ended, and Team B is the winner.

- During the first possession series of a period, Team B gains possession and then loses possession to Team A, which scores a touchdown. RULING: The score counts, and Team B begins its
possession series following the try.

The NCAA Overtime rule is as follows: [Rule 3-1-3]
Extra Periods
ARTICLE 3. The NCAA tiebreaker system will be used when a game is tied after four periods. NCAA football-playing rules apply, with the following exceptions:
a. Immediately after the conclusion of the fourth quarter, officials will instruct both teams to retire to their respective team areas. The officials will assemble at the 50-yard line and review the tiebreaker procedures.
b. The officials will escort the captains (Rule 3-1-1) to the center of the field for the coin toss. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the presence of not more than four field captains from each team and another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose one of the
following options:
  1. Offense or defense, with the offense at the opponent’s 25-yard line to start the first possession series.
  2. Which end of the field shall be used for both possession series of that overtime period.
Note: The winner of the toss may not defer his choice.

c. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent even-numbered extra periods.
d. Extra periods: An extra period shall consist of two possession series with each team putting the ball in play by a snap on or between the inbounds lines on the designated 25-yard line, which becomes the opponent’s 25-yard line. The snap shall be from midway between the inbounds
lines on the 25-yard line, unless a different position on or between the inbounds lines is selected before the ready-for-play signal. After the ready-for-play signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout, unless preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting penalties.
e. Possession series: Each team retains the ball during a possession series until it scores or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team possession (A.R. 3-1-3-I-XII).

Team A and B designations are the same as defined in Rule 2-27-1.

f. Scoring: The team scoring the greater number of points during the regulation and extra periods shall be declared the winner. There shall be an equal number of possession series, as described in (e) above, in each extra period, unless Team B scores other than on the try. Beginning with the third extra period, teams scoring a touchdown must attempt a twopoint try. Although not illegal, a one-point try attempt by Team A will not score a point (A.R. 3-1-3-XIII).
g. Fouls after a change of team possession (A.R. 3-1-3-XIV-XVII):
  1. Distance penalties against either team are declined by rule in extra periods (Exceptions: Penalties for flagrant personal fouls, dead-ball fouls and live-ball fouls treated as dead-ball fouls are enforced on the succeeding play).
  2. A score by a team committing a foul during the down is canceled.
  3. If both teams foul during the down and Team B had not fouled before the change of possession, the fouls offset and the down is not replayed.

h. Timeouts: Each team shall be allowed one timeout for each extra period. Timeouts not used during the regulation periods may not be carried over into the extra period(s). Unused extra-period timeouts may not be carried over to other extra periods. Timeouts between periods shall be charged to the succeeding period.  Radio and television timeouts are permitted only between extra periods(first and second, second and third, etc.). Charged team timeouts may not
be extended for radio and television purposes. The extra period(s) begins when the ball is first snapped.