Is ‘horns down’ a penalty in college football?

There have been a lot of questions about taunting calls in college football this season, and the ‘horns downs’ symbol is certainly part of that conversation.

The Texas Longhorns are known for their iconic burnt orange color and the Horns Up hand signal and chant that echoes throughout Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

But if the Hook em Horns symbol is iconic in Texas, then the ‘horns down’ signal is iconic in Oklahoma. The Sooners have appropriated the Longhorns symbol of strength and spirit and turned it into an all-too-easy mockery of their historic rivals. Under the lead of Oklahoma, football teams throughout the Big 12 and beyond began using ‘horns down’ to slight Texas.

With more strict taunting rules in place this season for college football players, there have been a lot of questions about the legality of using ‘horns down’ on the field.

So, is the ‘horns down’ hand gesture a penalty in college football?

The answer isn’t especially clear. Big 12 officials say maybe. But, it’s definitely a point of emphasis that falls under the taunting penalty.

Greg Burks, coordinator of Big 12 officials, told the media that “if you do a ‘horns down’ to a Texas player as an opponent, that’s probably going to be a foul.”

Probably. But the rules and officials’ judgments have proven to be extremely subjective throughout the years, so there is no guarantee that the gesture will bring on a yellow flag.

There are some nuances. If an opposing player gestures directly and unambiguously at a Texas player after a play, chances are high that a penalty will result. If that opponent just points their horn symbol to the ground in front of a crowd or out in the open, officials are less likely to slap them with a taunting call.

Without much clarity on the subject, opponents have to decide if the risk of ‘horns down’ is worth the reward.

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