Fair catching an onside kick is a billion IQ play

In this instance it was a smart reaction, but 99% of onside kicks are kicked on the ground so not usually possible.

This is the kicker's fault. Normal inside kicks are struck into the ground and bounce, which makes a fair catch not applicable. This kick was a chip shot that didn't hit turf off the tee. Very observant of the player (or great coaching if this was tape study) to notice.

This needs to be outlawed - ruins the whole point you can’t just wave an arm on an onside kick. Brilliant to do it but wow this sucks

Kicker needs to bounce it. Rookie mistake

Not sure I've ever seen that before. Some dang good quick thinking.

UNT 🤝 hilarious smart special plays trick plays

you can do that?!?!

#OKState did it first

He learned that from playing NCAA online, I guarantee it

Kicker has to send it into the ground to pop it up so a fair catch isn’t an option.

Top Tier coaching here..

Because it’s not an onside kick. It’s a pooch kick.

Not at all--- teach our JV kids to do it all the time. Just not as common to see..

That’s why you have to ground it

Not really…that’s why kickers always kick it into the ground first. That negates a fair catch call.

I’m pretty sure college is like high school. If the kicking team touches the ball in the air, it’s kick catching interference. Even if no receiver is in the area. Receiver doesn’t need to signal fair catch for that to be the ruling.

Because that’s not an “onside” kick.

There’s a reason 99.9999% of onside kicks are designed for the kicker to kick the ball so it hits the ground first. 🤷‍♂️

Literally taught to every football player. That’s why kickers are taught to kick the ball into the ground. Is there anyone at Barstool who ever actually played sports?

Not really. Its what every member of the return team is taught to do on those kinds of kicks. This is taught in middle school football.

Need an NCAA official here, but i don’t think the fair catch is necessary. Rule 6-3-3.

Now could they then get a free kick from that spot for three points? It’d be 56yd

for those wondering why this isn’t always done: you can only fair catch it if it hasn’t hit the ground. that’s why onside kicks are almost always bounced. can’t fair catch it then

that’s honestly genius… never seen that before

Im pretty sure if the kicker bounces the kick then it becomes ineligible to fair catch? Can’t fair catch after it’s hit the turf

Not really, everyone is coached to do this

It should be illegal to do so

big brain energy right there

Everyone on the hands team knows this. My brother fair caught the first kickoff ever in the Alamodome playing for Texas.

Galaxy brain flex in real time

That’s exactly why kickers practice kicking it into the ground for these and work on getting the right bounce.

I love how UNT just shows up every few years and gives us some bizarre special teams highlight to remind us all that they exist.

Also a very stupid play for navy for kicking an onside kick that’s not bounced.

This is why most onside kicks are kicked off of the ground first so it can’t be “fair caught”.