Explain This Rule To Me

[mmdaytontexas]

From an ESPN article on NCAA rule changes: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49584440/college-football-changes-include-tweaks-targeting-opi-rules

["In a change to align Division I rules with those in the NFL and high school, a team could choose to attempt a fair catch kick after a completed or awarded fair catch. The kick would be a place kick with a holder or a drop kick from the spot where the returner caught the ball. The defense would be at least 10 yards from the spot of the kick.

If the ensuing kick goes through the uprights, it would be worth three points.

The rarely used play last came up in the NFL in 2024 when the Los Angeles Chargers' Cameron Dicker converted from 57 yards against the Denver Broncos. ]

I'm not getting this rule at all. If someone punts to you and you fair-catch the ball, why would you ever kick it immediately unless no time was on the clock? And isn't it already legal to try a field goal on 1st down? Why the need for this rule if that is true? HOOK'EM 🤘🧡

[syracusehorn]

End of game or end of half scenarios. It rewards the defense for forcing a punt late in the half. It will be important for punters to understand the situation and not allow a fair catch on a late half/game punt. It will need to be out of bounds or otherwise not fieldable. In some situations, depending on the margin, it would be better to take a safety than attempt a punt.

[CHorn427]

19 minutes ago, mmdaytontexas said:

From an ESPN article on NCAA rule changes: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49584440/college-football-changes-include-tweaks-targeting-opi-rules

["In a change to align Division I rules with those in the NFL and high school, a team could choose to attempt a fair catch kick after a completed or awarded fair catch. The kick would be a place kick with a holder or a drop kick from the spot where the returner caught the ball. The defense would be at least 10 yards from the spot of the kick.

If the ensuing kick goes through the uprights, it would be worth three points.

The rarely used play last came up in the NFL in 2024 when the Los Angeles Chargers' Cameron Dicker converted from 57 yards against the Denver Broncos. ]

I'm not getting this rule at all. If someone punts to you and you fair-catch the ball, why would you ever kick it immediately unless no time was on the clock? And isn't it already legal to try a field goal on 1st down? Why the need for this rule if that is true? HOOK'EM 🤘🧡

1) I think they can kick the FG with zeroes on the clock

2) the defense is back significantly compared to a normal FG, so you can do a low trajectory kick without worrying about it being blocked

[mmdaytontexas]

18 minutes ago, CHorn427 said:

1) I think they can kick the FG with zeroes on the clock

2) the defense is back significantly compared to a normal FG, so you can do a low trajectory kick without worrying about it being blocked

Ok, that makes sense. The ESPN article completely left that part out. So, essentially the time for the punt and fair catch stop at zero, but the other team gets an offensive play at time 00:00, but only if that play is a field goal try. Sounds like a silly rule. How do you justify the need for that rule?