<Li> A defensive player intercepts a forward pass in his own end zone and the ball becomes dead behind or over the goal line . Like the instance of a kickoff or punt fielded in an end zone, the intercepting player can attempt to advance the ball but it is still a touchback as long as the ball never completely crosses the goal line into the field of play before it is downed . </Li> <Li> A blocked punt goes back into the end zone and the defensive team intentionally bats or kicks the ball out the back of the end zone . Offense must decline penalty . </Li> <P> In standard outdoor American football, the team awarded the touchback receives possession of the ball at its own 25 - yard line in college football, and the 25 yard - line for professional football, on kickoffs and free kicks after a safety as of the 2012 season . In arena football, and other indoor football games, a touchback results in the team awarded the touchback receiving the football at its own 3 - yard line . This can result from any of the above events except for punting, which is not a part of arena football . (In arena football, a kicked ball usually bounces back into play off of the rebound nets, but the above can still occur when the ball lands in the slack nets behind the goalposts after a kickoff, passes under the rebound nets and out of play, or in the event of fumbles and interceptions .) </P> <P> On March 23, 2016, the NFL announced that it would award a touchback line at the 25 - yard line instead of the previous 20 - yard line and much discussion and analysis on the impact of this change has emerged . This new rule will be re-evaluated after the 2016 NFL season . </P>

Where does the ball go after a touchback