There are two, and only two, kinds of passes in college football.

A forward pass is one that ends closer to Team B's (the defending team's) end zone than it began. There may be no more than one forward pass per play, and it must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage by an eligible runner (including the quarterback) who has not crossed the line of scrimmage during the play. If an eligible receiver does not catch a forward pass, it is deemed "incomplete," and the play ends.

Every other pass is a "lateral" or "backwards pass." Anyone with the ball can pitch the ball sideways or backwards, and if it hits the ground, the ball remains live. The play does not end, and any player can pick up the ball and carry it, down it, or score with it, or even pitch it again. There may be any number of non-forward passes on a play.

Please remember this next time a non-forward pass hits the ground while you are playing football: the ball is not dead.

And in a note to ESPN's Mike Tirico: please see this earlier item concerning when a pass is "almost intercepted."

Thank you.