NCAA Football rules

Question
player from team A running towards team B goal for apparent
touchdown, but tosses the ball toward the referee before the ball crosses the goal line, what is the ruleing? does team a retain possession at that point with 1st down and goal or is this ruled a touchback and possession goes over to team B

Answer
Thomas
Thanks for you question.  There are several different situations that arise from this question. I need more facts to give you a ruling; facts as to: how the ball was tossed, the direction tossed and the result of the play, Where was the ball snapped and what was down and distance. First and foremost if the ball in player possession doesn't cross the goalline it is not a Touch Down.  The question is a little vague and incomplete.

Your question indicated the runner "tosses the ball toward the referee before the ball crosses the goal line".  If the toss is forward, it potentially could be an illegal forward pass, penalized from the spot of the pass if accepted.  If it was a backward pass (or lateral pass, not forward) it is a legal live loose ball play.

What is the result of the play?  Where does the ball end up.  If the loose ball goes out of bounds beyond the goal line or through the endzone the result is a touchback.  If it goes out of bounds before the goal line, say the 1 yard line then the inbound spot is the one yardline and the ball will be placed there