College Football Penalties Reference
NCAA Football Penalties Ordered Alphabetically
| Penalty | Definition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Chop Block | When two players block the same defensive player one above and below the thigh. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down |
| Clipping | When a player blocks or falls into an opposing player from behind below the knees. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down |
| Defenseless Player | When a player makes unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless position. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down, Disqualification |
| Defensive Holding | When a defensive player holds onto an opposing player by their uniform rather than only push blocking, preventing them from moving in a certain direction. | 10 Yards |
| Defensive Offside | When a defensive player is over the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. | 5 Yards |
| Defensive Pass Interference | When a defensive player disrupts an opposing player's attempt to catch a pass. | 15 Yards, Spot of Foul, Automatic First Down |
| Delay Of Game | Called on a team when a play is not started after a set amount of time has passed, usually when the play clock expires. | 5 Yards, 10 Yards (home team) |
| Delay Of Kickoff | When a team commits a delay of game penalty during a kickoff. | 5 Yards |
| Disconcerting Acts or Signals | Using words to disconcert the offensive team during the snap. | 5 Yards |
| Disqualification | When a player’s actions result in that player being removed from the game | 15 Yards |
| Encroachment | When a defensive player illegally crosses the line of scrimmage before the snap and makes contact with an opposing player or has a clear path to the quarterback. | 5 Yards |
| Equipment Violation | When a player wears prohibited equipment or does not wear required equipment. | 15 Yards, Charged Timeout, Ejection |
| Facemask | When a player grabs an opposing player by the facemask. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down |
| Fair Catch Interference | When a player on the kicking team touches an opposing return player who has called a fair catch on the ball or if the ball is touched before being caught by the player who called for a fair catch. | 15 Yards |
| False Start | When an offensive player begins moving before the ball is snapped. | 5 Yards |
| Forcibly Contacting a Player Out of Bounds | When a player hits the runner forcibly once they are out of bounds. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down |
| Horse Collar | When a player grabs an opposing player from behind by the back collar of the uniform, under the padding, and pulls the player straight down off of their feet. | 15 Yards, Automatic First Down |
| Illegal Bat | When a player purposely swats the ball when it is loose in any direction out of the end zone. | 10 Yards, Loss of Down |
| Illegal Blindside Block | When a player blocks an opposing player while that player is unable to see the incoming blocker, and thus being defenseless. | 15 Yards |
| Illegal Block Above The Waist | When a player blocks an opposing player, who does not have the ball, from behind and above the waist. | 10 Yards |
| Illegal Contact | When a player makes contact with an opposing player when they are not allowed to contact at that time. | 5 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Illegal Crackback | When a player runs laterally across the field and blocks a defenseless player below the waist. | 15 Yards |
| Illegal Cut Block | When a player blocks an opposing player by diving into their knees from the front. | 15 Yards |
| Illegal Formation | When players are lined up in an illegal formation at the time of the snap. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Forward Handoff | When a forward handoff occurs following a forward pass. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Forward Pass | When a second forward pass occurs following a forward pass, or when the passer is beyond the line of scrimmage at the time of the throw. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Kick And Kicking Loose Ball | When a player kicks the ball when it is loose or a player kicks the ball when they are not allowed to make contact with the ball. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Motion | When a player moves or shifts before the ball is snapped in an illegal way. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Peel Back | When a player blocks an opposing player from the side and below the waist. | 15 Yards |
| Illegal Shift | When a player shifts illegally before the ball is snapped. This is similar to an illegal formation. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Substitution | When a player is substituted into the game while play is live or interferes with the game. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Touching of a Forward Pass | When the ball is touched illegally after a forward pass. Only eligible receivers can touch a forward pass before any other member of the offense. | 5 Yards |
| Illegal Touching of a Kick | When an illegal touch of the ball occurs after a kick. | Spot of the Foul |
| Illegal Use Of Hands | When a player's hands make contact with an opposing player's face-area forcefully during an attempt to make or get around a block. | 10 Yards (offense), 5 Yards Automatic 1st Down (defense) |
| Illegal Wedge | When two or more players line up shoulder to shoulder less than two yards apart to perform a block. | 15 Yards |
| Ineligible Downfield Kick | When a player other than the two players at the end of the line of scrimmage crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the kick/punt. | 5 Yards |
| Ineligible Downfield Pass | When a forward pass is completed to an ineligible downfield receiver. An ineligible downfield receiver is any player who did not line up off of the line of scrimmage, such as the offensive guards and tackles. | 5 Yards |
| Intentional Grounding | When the passer intentionally throws the ball incomplete while under pressure from the defense in order to avoid a sack. | 10 Yards, Loss of Down |
| Invalid Fair Catch Signal | When a player calling a fair catch does not correctly make the fair catch signal. | 5 Yards |
| Kick Catch Interference | When a player makes contact with an opposing player who is receiving a kick before the ball becomes live. | 15 Yards |
| Kickoff Out Of Bounds | When the ball lands out of bounds or is caught by a player out of bounds during the kickoff. | 30 Yards |
| Leaping | When a player jumps over the line of scrimmage in an attempt to tackle a player or block a kick and they make contact with a player on the opposing team prior or simultaneously as the snap. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Leverage | When a player gets a boost over the line of scrimmage in an attempt to tackle a player or block a kick and they make contact with a player on the opposing team prior or simultaneously as the snap. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Low Block | When a player performs an illegal block that is below the waist of a player on the opposing team. | 15 Yards |
| Neutral Zone Infraction | When a defensive player illegally enters the neutral zone around the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. | 5 Yards |
| Offensive Holding | When an offensive player holds a defensive player illegally. Holding occurs when a player grabs an opposing player by the jersey of the uniform to prevent them from moving in a certain direction. | 10 Yards |
| Offensive Offside | When an offensive player illegally crosses the neutral zone around the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. | 5 Yards |
| Offensive Pass Interference | When an offensive player performs an illegal action against a defensive player to prevent a pass from being defended properly, such as pushing the player. | 10 Yards |
| Offside On Free Kick | When a player is offside during a free kick or kickoff. | 5 Yards |
| Pass Interference | When a player hinders another player from catching the ball. | 10 Yards (Offense), 5 Yards Automatic 1st Down (Defense) |
| Player Out Of Bounds On Kick | When a player illegally re-enters the playing field after stepping out of bounds on the kickoff. | 5 Yards |
| Removal of the Helmet | When a player removes their helmet during a celebration or confrontation. | 15 Yards |
| Roughing the Holder | If a defensive player comes into forcible contact with the holder. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Roughing The Kicker | When a player makes contact with the kicker's plant leg on a kick or punt. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Roughing The Passer | When a defensive player makes harsh contact with the passer after the ball has been released for an allotted time. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Running Into The Kicker | When a player makes contact with the kicker's plant leg on a kick or punt. Similar to roughing the kicker. | 5 Yards |
| Sideline Infraction | When a player or coach steps out of the restricted area or across the sideline during a game. | 5 Yards (2nd Time), 15 Yards (3rd Time) |
| Striking, Kicking, or Kneeing an Opponent | When a player strikes, kicks, or knees an opponent. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Taunting | When a player taunts the opposing team or an opposing player. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Too Many Men On Field | When the team on offense or defense has more than the allowed 11 (12 in the CFL) men on the field. | 5 Yards |
| Tripping | When a player purposely trips an opposing player. | 10 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Unnecessary Physical Contact With Game Official | When rough contact is made towards an official. | 15 Yards, Ejection |
| Unnecessary Roughness | When rough contact is made towards an opposing player when deemed unnecessary. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Unsportsmanlike Conduct | When a player violates the rule of general sportsmanship. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
| Use Of Helmet | When a player lowers their helmet to make contact with an opposing player. | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down |
FAQ
What penalties result in a 5-yard loss in college football?
Fouls that result in a 5-yard loss in college football include: Defensive Offside, Delay of Game (away team), Delay of Kickoff, Disconcerting Acts or Signals, Encroachment, False Start, Illegal contact, Illegal Formation, Illegal Forward Handoff, Illegal Forward Pass, Illegal Kick and Kicking Loose Ball, Illegal Motion, Illegal Shift, Illegal Substitution, Illegal Touching of a Forward Pass, Illegal Use of Hands (defensive), Ineligible Downfield Kick, Ineligible Downfield Pass, Invalid Fair Catch Signal, Neutral Zone Infraction, Offensive Offside, Offside on Free Kick, Pass Interference (defense), Player Out of Bounds on Kick, Running into the Kicker, Sideline Infraction (second time), and Too Many Men On The Field.
What penalties result in a 10-yard loss in college football?
Fouls that result in a 10-yard loss in college football include: Defensive Holding, Illegal Bat, Illegal Block Above the Waist, Illegal Use of Hands, Intentional Grounding, Offensive Holding, Offensive Pass Interference, and Tripping.
What penalties result in a 15-yard loss in college football?
Fouls that result in a 15-yard loss in college football include: Chop Block, Clipping, Defenseless Player, Defensive Pass Interference, Disqualification, Equipment Violation, Facemask, Fair Catch Interference, Horse Collar, Kick Catch Interference, Leverage, Removal of the Helmet, Roughing the Passer, Taunting, Unnecessary Roughness, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and Use of Helmet.
How are college football penalties different than in the NFL?
Most college football penalties are the same as in the NFL. Two notable differences are unsportsmanlike conduct and defensive pass interference. The NCAA allows no celebration after a score, flagging it as unsportsmanlike conduct, whereas the NFL allows some. In college football, defensive pass interference is a 15-yard penalty at a maximum, while, in the NFL, defensive pass interference is a spot foul regardless of the distance.