Editing Touchback (section)

==Situations resulting in a touchback==
Examples of instances where a touchback is awarded:
* A [[Kickoff (gridiron football)|kickoff]] or [[Punt (gridiron football)|punt]] enters the end zone and is downed by the receiving team without the ball being advanced beyond the goal line. Thus, a player on the receiving team could ''attempt'' to advance the ball out of his own end zone, but the original impetus from the kick remains as long as the ball does not completely cross the goal line into the field of play. If a kick is fielded by the receiving team in its end zone, is advanced beyond the goal line, and then the ball carrier retreats back into his own end zone where the ball is downed, it is a safety. If a member of the ''kicking'' team recovers a kickoff in the end zone, the play is ruled as a touchdown.
* In college football, any kickoff that ends in a fair catch by the receiving team inside its own 25-yard line. This rule also applies in Texas high school football because that state's base rule set is that of the college game.
* In high school football (except in Texas), any kicked ball that crosses the plane of the goal line, unless it is a successful field goal.
* A kickoff or punt touches the ground in the receiving team's end zone before being touched by a player of the receiving team. If a kicked-off ball goes into the end zone and then is recovered by a member of the kicking team, it is a touchdown for the kicking team, when the ball is touched by the receivers.
* A kickoff or punt goes [[out of bounds]] behind or over the receiving team's goal line or touches the goal posts or crossbar (and does not score a field goal).
* A ball carrier fumbles the ball within the field of play forward into his opponent's end zone and the loose ball then goes out of bounds behind or above his opponent's goal line, is recovered and downed by an opposing player in the end zone, or touches the pylon. The opposing team is awarded a touchback.
** However, the [[United Football League (2024)|current UFL]] does not award a touchback in this situation. It retained the rule used by both of its predecessor leagues, the [[United States Football League (2022)|second USFL]] and [[XFL (2020)|second XFL]]. In all three leagues, the offense retains possession at the spot of the fumble. If the fumble occurs on fourth down and the ball carrier had not reached the line to gain before the fumble, the defense gains possession at the spot of the fumble.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/usfl/usfl-adds-new-rules-for-2023-brings-back-popular-innovations-from-last-season |title=USFL adds new rules for 2023, brings back popular innovations from last season |work=Fox Sports |date=April 13, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/35660230/xfl-football-2023-primer-rules-player-salaries-coaches-expectations |title=XFL 2023: Rules, player salaries and everything you need to know |first=Kevin |last=Seifert |website=ESPN.com |date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref>
* A defensive player intercepts a forward pass in his own end zone and the ball becomes dead behind or over the goal line. Like the instance of a kickoff or punt fielded in an end zone, the intercepting player can ''attempt'' to advance the ball but it is still a touchback as long as the ball never completely crosses the goal line into the field of play before it is downed.
* A blocked punt goes back into the end zone and the defensive team intentionally bats or kicks the ball out the back of the end zone.  The offense must decline the penalty.