line of scrimmage
noun phrase
: an imaginary line in football that is parallel to the goal lines and tangent to the nose of the ball laid on the ground and marks the position of the ball at the start of each down
Examples of line of scrimmage in a Sentence
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Bozeman did a lot for the Chargers at the line of scrimmage pre-snap in terms of making calls and reading fronts.
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Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That downhill mentality, McClellan added, often showed up behind the line of scrimmage, where Trotter consistently put himself in position to make plays.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
The provisions announced Tuesday include the elimination of the tush push, which technically means players behind the quarterback can’t push him toward the line of scrimmage right after the snap.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Along with coaches George Halas, Clark Shaughnessy, and Ralph Jones, Luckman was a pioneer in the T Formation motion, with three running backs lined up behind the quarterback and a man shifting laterally and behind the line of scrimmage.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
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Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That downhill mentality, McClellan added, often showed up behind the line of scrimmage, where Trotter consistently put himself in position to make plays.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
The provisions announced Tuesday include the elimination of the tush push, which technically means players behind the quarterback can’t push him toward the line of scrimmage right after the snap.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Along with coaches George Halas, Clark Shaughnessy, and Ralph Jones, Luckman was a pioneer in the T Formation motion, with three running backs lined up behind the quarterback and a man shifting laterally and behind the line of scrimmage.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for line of scrimmage
Cite this Entry
“Line of scrimmage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20scrimmage. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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