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College Football Glossary | Q-T

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Quarter
One period of a football game.
Quarterback
The offensive player who receives the ball from the center at the start of each play before either handing it to the running back, throwing it to a receiver, or running with it himself.
Quarterback Rating
A formula used to calculate a quarterback's effectiveness in the passing game.
Quarterback Sneak
An offensive play where the quarterback receives the snap from center and immediately runs or jumps forward.
Quick Count
A strategy where the quarterback calls the signals at the line of scrimmage very fast so as to throw off the other team or catch them by surprise.
Quick Kick
A play where the offense lines up in a formation as if they are going to run an offensive play, but the player taking the snap surprises the defense by punting the ball.
Reading the Defense
The act of recognizing defensive formations and keys.
Ready List
A short list of plays tailored specifically for an upcoming game.
Receiver
An offensive player whose job it is to catch the football.
Recover
Taking control of a ball that has been fumbled.
Red Dog
A defensive strategy in which a linebacker or defensive back vacates his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the quarterback. The object of a red dog is to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage or force the quarterback to hurry his pass.
Redshirt
A college football player who skips a year of play without losing a year of eligibility. A player will often redshirt because of an injury or acedemic problem.
Red Zone
The area between the 20-yard line and the goal line at both ends of the field.
Referee
The referee is the official that has control of the game and is generally the final authority in all decisions. Among his duties are:
Announce all penalties
Explain penalties to the offending team's captain
Explain penalties to the head coach of the offending team and inform him of who it was called against
Position himself in the backfield, approximately 10 yards behind the quarterback, before each snap
Monitor illegal hits on the quarterback
Watch for illegal blocks near the quarterback
Determine whether the yardage chains should be brought on the field for a measurement You can tell the referee from the other officials because he is the only one that wears a white hat. All other officials wear black hats.
Regular Season
The actual football season, which excludes the preseason and the playoffs.
Return
The act of bringing the ball back in the opposite direction after a change of possession.
Returner
A player who runs back kickoffs and/or punts.
Reverse
A play in which the running back receives a handoff from the quarterback and then runs laterally behind the line of scrimmage before handing off to a receiver running in the opposite direction.
Roll
The act of the quarterback moving left or right out of the pocket before throwing or running with the football.
Roll Out
The act of the quarterback moving left or right out of the pocket before throwing or running with the football.
Rookie
A player in his first season in the NFL or other professional league.
Roster
A list of the members of a football team.
Roughing the Kicker
Flagrantly running into or hitting the kicker after the ball has been kicked.
Roughing the Passer
Flagrantly running into or hitting the quarterback after the ball has been released. Can also be called when a defender hits the quarterback in the head.
Route
A predetermined direction and distance that a receiver follows when he runs from the line of scrimmage for a forward pass.
Runback
Returning a kickoff, punt, fumble recovery, or interception.
Running Back
An offensive player who runs with the football.
Running into the Kicker
Making incidental contact with a placekicker or punter after the ball has been kicked. A less serious version of the roughing the kicker penalty.
Rush
1. To run from the scrimmage line with the football.
2. To put pressure on the quarterback in an attempt to tackle him or force him into a bad throw.
Sack
Any tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Safety
1. A two-point score by the defense that occurs when one of its players tackles an opponent in possession of the ball in his own end zone.
2. A defensive player who lines up in the secondary between, but generally deeper the the cornerbacks.
Safety Blitz
A defensive tactic where one or both safeties rush the quarterback.
Safety Valve
A short pass thrown to a running back when the quarterback cannot find an open receiver before the pass rush closes in.
Salary Cap
The maximum amount of money that a team can spend on player salaries in a given year.
Scheme
A term used to describe offensive and defensive formations and the overall strategy for using such a formation.
Scramble
A tactic where a quarterback runs around behind the line of scrimmage to avoid tacklers while buying time for his receivers to get open.
Scrambler
A quarterback who has the ability to buy time for his receivers by running around and avoiding tacklers.
Scrambling
The act, by a quarterback, of moving around to avoid the pass rush.
Screen Pass
A forward pass in which the defensive linemen are allowed to get through the offensive line while two offensive linemen run wide to a specific side of the field and then turn and block upfield for a running back who takes a short pass from the quarterback.
Scrimmage
1. The action between two teams when the ball is snapped.
2. A simulated game.
Secondary
1. The defensive players who line up behind the linebackers and basically defend the pass.
2. The area of the field defended by the defensive backs.
Second Forward Pass Behind the Line of Scrimmage
An illegal pass play in which a player catches a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage, then passes the ball forward to another receiver.
Series
The four downs that a team has to advance 10 yards.
Shift
The movement of one or more players to a different position in a formation before the football is snapped.
Shotgun
A passing formation in which the quarterback stands 5 to 7 yards beind the center before the snap.
Side Judge
The official that lines up 20 yards deep in the defensive backfield. His duties are essentially the same as the back judge:
Make sure the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field
Watch all eligible receivers on his side of the field
Watch the area between the umpire and field judge
Rule on the legality of catches and pass interference penalties
Watch for clipping on kick returns
Sidelines
The line along each side of the field that marks where the field of play ends.
Signal Caller
The player who calls the plays in the huddle or on the line of scrimmage.
Signals
The code that a team uses to call their plays.
Single Elimination
A tournament where a team is eliminated after just one loss.
Single-Wing Formation
A rarely used offensive formation devised by legendary coach Pop Warner that used three backfield teammates to block for the player carrying the ball.
Slant
A play in which the ball carrier runs across the field at an angle instead of running straight toward the end zone.
Slot
A gap in the line between the wide receiver and a tackle.
Snap
The action in which the ball is thrown or handed by the center to the quarterback, to the holder on a kick attempt, or to the punter.
Spearing
Hitting another player with the crown of the helmet.
Special Teams
The group of players who are on the field during kicks and punts.
Spike
The act of slamming the football to the ground.
Spiral
The spin on the ball in flight after the quarterback releases it.
Split End
The receiver that usually lines up on the line of scrimmage, but split to the outside of the formation.
Spot
The exact location on the field that a player's forward progress is stopped, as marked by an official.
Square In
A pass pattern where the runner goes downfield then turns in at a right angle to the center of the field.
Square Out
A pass pattern where the runner goes downfield then turns sharply out to the sideline.
Squib Kick
A low, line drive kickoff that often bounces around before it is fielded by the kick returner.
Stance
The position that a player assumes prior to the snap of the ball.
Stiff Arm
Using a hand and straight arm at the opponents head or chest area to avoid a tackle.
Straight Arm
Using a hand and stiff arm at the opponents head or chest area to avoid a tackle.
Striking an Official
No player may intentionally strike or push an official.
Striking an Opponent
A player may not strike another with a fist.
Strong Safety
A defensive player who generally lines up in the secondary to help stop the pass, but often aligns close to the line of scrimmage to help stop the run.
Strong Side
The side of the offensive formation where the tight end aligns.
Stunt
A pass-rushing maneuver by two defensive linemen in which they alter their course to the quarterback, hoping to confuse the offensive linemen.
Substitution
The act of replacing one player with another.
Subway Alumni
The followers of any college team who didn't attend or graduate from that institution.
Succeeding Spot
The spot where the next play begins, provided no penalty was called.
Suicide Squad
The group of players who are on the field during kicks and punts that run down field and try to break through the wedge created by the return team.
Super Bowl
The National Football League's championship game.
Sweep
A running play in which two or more offensive linemen pull out of their stances and running toward the outside of the line of scrimmage, leading the running back who receives a handoff or pitch from the quarterback.
T-Formation
An offensive formation that features three running backs in the backfield. From above, the center, quarterback and running backs appear to be lined up in the shape of a T.
Tackle
1. To bring down an offensive player who has the ball.
2. Also refers to a position on both the defensive and offensive lines.
Tailback
An offensive player whose primary role is to carry the ball.
Takeaway
When a defense forces a fumble and recovers the ball or registers an interception.
TD
An abbreviation for touchdown.
Territory
The half of the field defended by a particular team.
Third-and-Long
A situation in which a team finds themselves forced to run a third-down play in which they need to gain considerable yardage to get the first down.
Three-Point Stance
The starting position many linemen take at the line of scrimmage before the football is snapped.
Tight End
An offensive player who serves as a receiver and also a blocker.
Time Out
A break in action requested by either team or one of the officials.
Too Many Men on the Field
Each team is allowed just 11 men on the field during a play. Having more than 11 is illegal.
Touchback
A play in which the ball is ruled dead on or behind a team's own goal line, generally after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
Touchdown
A scoring play in which any part of the ball, while legally in the possession of a player who is in-bounds, crosses the plane of the opponent's goal line.
Trap Block
A blocking scheme where a defensive player is allowed through the offensive line only to be blocked by another player behind the line.
Trenches
The area immediately around the line of scrimmage.
Tripping
Using a leg or foot to trip another player is illegal.
Turn In
A pass route where the player runs downfield then turns in toward the middle of the field.
Turn Out
A pass pattern where the player runs downfield then turns out toward the sidelines.
Turnover
A loss of possession of the ball via a fumble or interception.
Two-minute Warning
A official's timeout at the end of each half that signals just two minutes remain.
Two-Point Conversion
A scoring play, immediately after a touchdown, in which a team can add two bonus points by running or passing the ball into the end zone on one play starting from the opponent's two-yard line.

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