Why does everyone believe this is the case? Turning your head to look for the ball as a defender isn’t a requirement to avoid pass interference and it never has been! There are no rules that require you to do something in order to avoid a penalty. All penalties are for committing an illegal act. There is no penalty for running down the field and not turning your head. This is the most misunderstood rule in football. Everyone from casual fans to longtime broadcast commentators makes this mistake and continue to misinform viewers.
Is it more likely that a ref will flag a player that doesn’t look? Yes, probably. Is it mentioned anywhere in the rulebook? No.
The rulebook for each season can be downloaded for free at:http://www.ncaapublications.com.
Iowa State @ 
Utah 
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