[nova]

Originally Posted by Zeus

can't end the game with a penalty

Right, but the way the rules work the penalty would result in AL being in posession.

http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uplo...f15136079d.pdf

Originally Posted by page 70

ARTICLE 3. a. A period shall be extended for an untimed down (other than a try) if during a down in which time expires one or more of the following
occurs (A.R. 3-2-3-I-VIII):
1. A penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul(s) not treated as a dead-ball
foul (Exception: Rule 10-2-5-a). The period is not extended if the
statement of the penalty includes loss of down (A.R. 3-2-3-IX).
2. There are offsetting fouls.
3. An official sounds his whistle inadvertently or otherwise incorrectly
signals the ball dead.
b. Additional untimed downs (other than a try) will be played until a down
is free of the circumstances in statements 1, 2 and 3 of Rule 3-2-3-a
(above).

The penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is

Originally Posted by page126

Dead-ball foul or live-ball foul treated as dead-ball foul.
15 yards [S7 and S27] from the succeeding spot. Flagrant
offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be disqualified
[S47]. If a player or an identified squad member in uniform
commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in the same game, he
shall be disqualified.

So if you gave one more down, that indicates the change of posession would stand since the penalty is assessed on the next play meaning AL just gets backed up for the kneel...

The actual rulebook is damn near incomprehensible so I could be wrong but I don't think I am....

ETA

The SEC interp is pretty close to what I was saying....

http://m.si.com/news/to/to/detail/19...F3.cnnsilive9i

Because Alabama blocked and recovered the ball, Alabama had possession. The game can't end on a defensive penalty, but because of the possession change, Alabama wasn't on defense. We'll let SEC spokesman Charles Bloom take it from here.

"The foul for taking helmet off is a live ball foul treated as a dead-ball foul," Bloom wrote in an e-mail Saturday night. "That is, if it happens on a play where time does not expire then the penalty is enforced on the following play. However since the clock ran out on that play, then there is no next play, so there is no penalty to mark off."