Football is filled with rare and unusual plays, but one of the least common scoring events is the one-point safety. Most fans are familiar with traditional safeties, which award two points to the defense when the offensive team is tackled in its own end zone. However, the one-point safety is a rare variation that can only occur under specific circumstances.

Although it has been recorded only a handful of times at the college level and has never happened in the NFL, the one-point safety remains one of the most fascinating scoring quirks in football.

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What Is a One-Point Safety?

A one-point safety occurs when a team attempting an extra point or two-point conversion commits a safety, resulting in the defensive team earning one point instead of the usual two.

For this play to happen, the defending team must gain possession of the ball during the conversion attempt and then somehow get tackled in their own end zone. Since conversion plays do not allow for defensive returns, the play is ruled dead, and the defensive team is awarded one point instead of taking possession downfield.

This type of safety is only possible in college football (NCAA) and some high school leagues where defensive teams can score points on conversion attempts. It has never occurred in an NFL game, as the league does not allow defenses to score during a PAT or two-point attempt.

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How Could a One-Point Safety Happen?

The one-point safety can only occur under very specific conditions:

1. A team scores a touchdown and attempts an extra point or a two-point conversion.
2. The defensive team gains possession of the ball during the conversion attempt.
3. The defense retreats or is forced back into their own end zone and is tackled or loses possession out of bounds.
4. Instead of the usual two-point safety, only one point is awarded because it happens on a conversion attempt.

This sequence of events is highly unlikely but has happened in real games, making it one of the most obscure scoring plays in football.

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Has a One-Point Safety Ever Happened in a Game?

While the one-point safety has never occurred in an NFL game, it has been recorded in NCAA college football.

Notable One-Point Safety Occurrences

• 2013 Fiesta Bowl – Oregon vs. Kansas State
  During a PAT attempt, Kansas State blocked Oregon’s kick. A Kansas State player then recovered the ball and attempted to return it but was tackled inside his own end zone. This resulted in a one-point safety for Oregon.
• 2004 Texas vs. Texas A&M
  Texas attempted an extra point after a touchdown. Texas A&M blocked the kick, and an Aggie player recovered the ball before being tackled in his own end zone, leading to a one-point safety for Texas.

Each of these plays was a once-in-a-generation occurrence, making the one-point safety one of football’s rarest scoring methods.

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Why Doesn’t the One-Point Safety Happen in the NFL?

The NFL does not allow defensive teams to return conversion attempts for points, which prevents the one-point safety from ever occurring. In college and high school football, defensive teams can return a failed extra point or two-point attempt for their own score, making it possible for them to be tackled in their own end zone and triggering a one-point safety.

If the NFL changed its rules to allow defensive returns on conversions (similar to college football), the one-point safety could theoretically happen, but the odds would remain incredibly low.

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How Likely Is a One-Point Safety to Happen Again?

Because it requires a blocked kick or turnover, a defensive recovery, and an own-goal safety on the same play, the one-point safety is one of the rarest scoring events in football.

Most teams are coached to avoid this situation by:

• Falling on blocked kicks instead of trying to return them.
• Avoiding risky lateral passes after turnovers on conversions.
• Ensuring ball security when defending conversion attempts.

Given these factors, another one-point safety is unlikely to happen anytime soon, but it remains a fascinating rule for football enthusiasts.

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Conclusion

A one-point safety is one of football’s rarest scoring plays, only occurring when a defensive team gains possession during a conversion attempt but is then tackled in their own end zone. Though never seen in an NFL game, this unusual event has happened in NCAA football, adding an extra layer of strategy and unpredictability to the sport.

While rare, the one-point safety is a perfect example of football’s complex rules and surprising moments, proving that even the most unlikely scenarios can become part of the game’s rich history.