American Football NCAA Rule 4-2-1 and 4
Article 1 – Player Out of Bounds
a. A player is out of bounds when any part of their person touches anything, other than another player or game official, on or outside a boundary line (Rule 2-27-15) (A.R. 4-2-1-I and II).
b. An out-of-bounds player who becomes airborne remains out of bounds until they touch the ground inbounds without simultaneously being out of bounds.
c. A player who touches a pylon is out of bounds.
Article 4 – Out of Bounds at Forward Point
a. If a live ball is declared out of bounds and the ball does not cross a boundary line, it is out of bounds at the ball’s most forward point when it was declared dead (A.R. 4-2-4-I) (Exception: Rule 8-5-1-a, A.R. 8-5-1-I).
b. A touchdown is scored if the ball is inbounds and has broken the plane of the goal line (Rule 2-12-2) before or simultaneous to the ball carrier going out of bounds.
c. A receiver who is in the opponent’s end zone and contacting the ground is credited with a completion if they reach over the sideline or end line and catch a legal pass.
d. The most forward point of the ball when declared out of bounds between the goal lines is the point of forward progress. (A.R. 8-2-1-I and A.R. 8-5- 1-VII) (Exception: When a ball carrier is airborne as they cross the sideline (including a striding runner), forward progress is determined by the position of the ball as it crosses the sideline (A.R. 8-2-1-II-III and V-IX).