The play by play data will be given to you as an array, where each element is
the equivalent to one row in the CSV spreadsheets available for download. The
elements will be formatted in the same way, with commas to delimit fields, and
with some entries in quotes, if they contain a comma. None of the input
contains double quotes except to surround some fields (i.e. there are no
escaped double quotes). The play by play data has 71 fields:
- EVENTID - this is a unique identifier for the game being played
- UNQPLY_GROUP - this is an identifier for the play. Most plays
will have only a single record, and hence a unique UNQPLY_GROUP. In
some cases there may be multiple entires with the same UNQPLY_GROUP.
This occurs most often with punts and kickoffs where the kick and the
return are represented by two entries.
- RECORD_ID - a unique ID for the entry
- SCHEDULE_ID - another unique ID for the game. This one contains
the date and name of the home team
- INCOMING_STATE_HEADER_ID - This field contains the type of play
being performed. The valid entries are:
- ncaafCSVBlockedKickedRecovery - A kick was blocked and
recovered by the oposing team
- ncaafCSVExtraPoint - An extra point attempt after a
touchdown
- ncaafCSVFieldGoal - A field goal attempt
- ncaafCSVFieldGoalReturn - An unusual return of a blocked
field goal
- ncaafCSVFumble - The play ended in a fumble
- ncaafCSVKickOff - A kickoff to open a half, or after a
touchdown
- ncaafCSVKickOffReturn - The return of a kickoff
- ncaafCSVOppFmbRecovery - The defending team recovered a
fumble
- ncaafCSVOwnFmbRecovery - The offensive team fumbled but
recovered it
- ncaafCSVPassInCompletion - An unsuccessful pass
- ncaafCSVPassInterception - An intercepted pass
- ncaafCSVPassReception - A successful pass
- ncaafCSVPenalty - A penalty
- ncaafCSVPunt - The offensive team elected to punt
- ncaafCSVPuntReturn - The return of a punt
- ncaafCSVRush - A running play
- ncaafCSVSack - The quarterback was sacked
- ncaafCSVTwoPointPass - A passing attempt at a two point
conversion
- ncaafCSVTwoPointRush - A rushing attempt at a two point
conversion
- POSS_TEAM_CODE_STARTPLAY - The name of the team with possession of
the ball at the start of the play
- POSS_TEAM_ID_STARTPLAY - The ID of the team with possession of the
ball at the start of the play
- OPP_TEAM_ID_STARTPLAY - The ID of the team defending at the start
of the play
- POSS_TEAM_CODE_ENDPLAY - The name of the team with possession
of the ball at the end of the play
- POSS_TEAM_ID_ENDPLAY - The ID of the team with possession of the
ball at the end of the play
- OPP_TEAM_ID_ENDPLAY - The ID of the defending team at the end of
the play
- DOWN_STARTPLAY - The down at the start of the play
- DOWN_ENDPLAY - The down at the end of the play
- DISTANCE_STARTPLAY - The number of yards required for a first down
at the start of the play
- DISTANCE_ENDPLAY - The number of yards required for a first down
at the end of the play
- YARDLINE_STARTPLAY - The location of the ball at the start of the
play. "Fresn 35", for instance means that the ball is on Fresno's 35
yardline. Teams try to move the ball out of their territory (increase
the yard number in their territory) and move the ball into their
opponents territory (lower yard number)
- YARDLINE_ENDPLAY - Similar to YARDLINE_STARTPLAY, but for the end
of the play
- CLOCK_TIME - The time on the clock at the start of the drive
- QUARTER_STATUS - Which quarter is currently being played (normally
1-4, 5 is the first overtime quarter)
- HOME_SCORE - The score of the home team
- VISIT_SCORE - The score of the visiting team
- PASSER_TEAM_ID - Either empty, or the team ID of the quarterback
on passing plays
- PLAYER_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team with the ball, or
empty for kicking plays
- INTENDED_RECEIVER_TEAM_ID - The team ID of the intended receiver,
if there was one
- PASS_DEFENDER_TEAM_ID - The team ID of the defensive player on
passes
- TACKLER_TEAM_ID - The ID of the dending team on plays that ended
with a tackle by one player
- ASSISTED_BY_TEAM_ID1 - The team ID of the tackling team when more
than one person was involved in the tackle
- ASSISTED_BY_TEAM_ID2 - Same as above
- KICKER_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the kickoff team on kickoff
plays
- PUNTER_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the punting team on punts
- BLOCKER_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team which blocked a kick
- MUFFLED_BY_TEAM_ID - Contains the team ID on Muffled
punts
- DOWNED_BY_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team which downed the
punt
- FAIR_CATCH_BY_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team making the
fair catch
- SACKED_BY_TEAM_ID1 - Contains the ID of the team making the sack
- SACKED_BY_TEAM_ID2 - Contains the ID of the team making the sack
if more than one player was involved
- FORCED_BY_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team forcing the fumble
- RECOVERER_TEAM_ID - Contains the ID of the team recovering the
fumble
- YARD_LINE - Contains the location of some events
- FIRST_TOUCHED_YARD_LINE - The location the ball was first touched
on a fumble
- STARTING_YARD_LINE - see YARDLINE_START
- ENDING_YARD_LINE - see YARDLINE_END
- STATISTICAL_YARDAGE - The number of yards the team advanced
- PENALTY_DISTANCE - The number of penalty yards accessed, when
applicable
- KICK_OFF_RESULT - The result of a kickoff when not returned
- KICK_OFF_RETURN_RESULT - The result of a kickoff return when not
simply tackled
- FIELD_GOAL_RESULT - The result of a field goal attempt
- EXTRA_POINT_RESULT - The result of an extra point attempt
- RUSH_DIRECTION - Unused
- REASON_MISSED - For missed field goals and extra points
- RECOVERY_TYPE - Who recovered a fumble
- PENALTY_DESCRIPTION1 - Type of penalty
- PENALTY_STATUS1 - ACCEPT or REJECT
- PENALTY_DESCRIPTION2 - Used when there are multiple penalties
- PENALTY_STATUS2 - Used when there are multiple penalties
- ENDED_WITH_SAFETY - If the play ended in a safety
- NO_ATTEMPT - If no play attempt was made (typically due to false
start)
- ON_SIDE_KICK - If a kickoff was onside
- SAFETY_EFFECT - If the safety was the result of a penalty
- PLAY_ABORTED_FUMBLE - Unused
- PLAY_ABORTED_PENALTY - If the play was aborted due to a penalty
- RECOVERY_TEAM_CODE - The name of the team that recovered a fumble
- CURRENT_TEAM - The team that was penalized, if there was a penalty
- TEAM_CHARGED - The second team charged with a penalty, if there
were two
- DATE_MODIFIED - The date the record was modified
- PENALTY_ENFORCED_WHEN - When the penalty was enforced
- FIRSTDOWN - Did the play result in a first down
- SPLITSACK - If a sack was attributed to multiple players
- CHALLENGEUPHELD - If a team challenged and the challenge was
upheld
- CHALLENGETEAM_ID - The ID of the challenging team
- DRIVE_NO - The number of the drive, which increments on changes of
possession
- ASSISTED_BY_TEAM_ID3 - If three players were involved in the
tackle