1988 Miami catch vs. Notre Dame wouldn't have stood under 2026 rules
A 1988 TD catch by Miami at Notre Dame illustrates, in tandem with the 2026 game, how much the rules on legal pass catches have changed in football
In 2026, a Miami touchdown catch against Notre Dame was ruled a non-catch and non-touchdown, despite the receiver having firm possession of the ball in the end zone and stepping out of bounds. This differs from the 1988 game, where Miami receiver Andre Brown was initially ruled a catch by officials. The difference in ruling is due to changes in football rules surrounding legal pass catches.
In 1988, the act of catching the ball was viewed as instantaneous, while in 2026, the receiver must continue to retain possession amidst defender efforts. The most famous example of a quick legal catch is Butch Johnson's touchdown in Super Bowl XII, where the ball was held briefly but was still ruled a touchdown. The change occurred after instances like Florida's Jabar Gaffney's end zone catch in 2000, which was ruled a touchdown despite holding the ball for a split second before it was knocked out.
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