Vegas Cane 305

FSU fan here, but I believe Miami got robbed of a touchdown. Under NCAA Rule 2-4-3(a), a receiver must secure possession, establish himself inbounds, and maintain control long enough to perform an act common to the game. He doesn’t actually have to perform that act. The NCAA’s own instant replay guidance specifically identifies additional steps as evidence of transitioning from a receiver to a runner. Miami’s receiver secured the football, established BOTH feet inbounds, remained upright, and took another step out of bounds before the ball was dislodged. Rule 2-4-3(b) governs receivers going to the ground during the catch. That’s not what happened here. He remained upright. If those actions established a completed catch before he stepped out, Rule 8-2-1(b) makes it a touchdown immediately. There can be no subsequent fumble because the play is already dead. You can’t argue that his next step would establish possession in the field of play while automatically dismissing that same evidence in the end zone. The standard for a completed catch doesn’t change simply because the receiver is standing in the end zone. By that interpretation, Miami scored. And I’m saying that as an FSU fan.