Think we need an
@alt f4 ruling on this one. Don't they have until the snap to get off the field?
Illegal substitution on defense is a live ball foul, illegal substitution on offense is a dead ball foul. Illegal substitution is the same as 12-players on the field for defense at the snap or 12 breaking huddle or in formation on offense. Offense gets a free play if defense has 12 at the snap.
This penalty changed I think in 2020. It used to be a dead ball foul if defense had 12 at the snap.
If Oregon did this on purpose, it's genius. Essentially if the offense runs a play, you get a 12th defender and offense loses time.
However, if the offense allows the play clock to run out when there is 12 on defense, they don't get a delay of game, defense gets an illegal subsitution.
I imagine there will be a rule change to address the timing aspect of an illegal substitution under 2 minutes or under 1 minute.
Rule:
b Team B is allowed to briefly retain more than 11 players on the field to anticipate the offensive formation, but it may not have more than 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped The infraction is treated as a live-ball foul (A R 3-5-3-I-VII) PENALTY—Live-ball foul. Five yards at the previous spot. [S22]
Approved ruling for play clock running out:
3/5 @ B-35 Team B has 12 players in the formation, and no Team B player is attempting to leave the field The ball is ready for play, both teams are in formation and the snap is imminent Quarterback A12, late in the play clock, is struggling to read the defense and (a) calls timeout; or (b) the play clock expires RULING: When the deep officials count 12 Team B players, both teams are in formation, no Team B player is attempting to leave the field and the snap is imminent, (a) the crew will offer Team A their time out back and penalize Team B for a substitution foul Team A 1/10 @ B-30 (b) no foul for delay of game, penalize Team B for a substitution foul Team A 1/10 @ B-30