Not so fast: NCAA spokesperson reportedly says no rule change being considered after North Texas fake punt
By Adam Spencer
Published:
By now, you’ve seen the play — North Texas PR Keegan Brewer fielded a punt against Arkansas on Saturday and then… did nothing.
He hadn’t waved for a fair catch, though, so the play was still live. However, no Razorbacks tackled him as he casually walked past the first line of defenders and then took off at full speed.
Many yards later, he arrived in the end zone, finishing the play that thoroughly embarrassed the Hogs:
Now THAT'S a perfectly executed trick play ? #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/YR3pKyyDaH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 15, 2018
On Tuesday morning, it was reported that the NCAA was considering a rule change that would close the “loophole” that allowed that play to be successful. However, according to a follow-up report from ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura, that is not the case:
NCAA spokesman on the report of a possible rule change related to the North Texas punt return: "I’ll debunk the rumor … There is no rules change being considered."
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) September 18, 2018
That’s probably for the best, as North Texas’s play wasn’t illegal. It’s up to players to make sure they play until the whistle, so teams need to be on guard for that in the coming weeks.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
