Again, you're full of shit and making crap up - the NFL rule is worded distinctly different than the NCAA rule, so it's absurd and utterly incorrect to say that one should refer to the NFL rule and wording rather than the NCAA wording. It's like saying an NCAA receiver has to get both feet down, rather than just one foot down, for a legal reception because the NFL rule book reads that way?!?! Wrong genius, that isn't how it works, lmfao.
The NFL Rulebook specifically distinguishes between rules that apply for an airborne "loose ball" that never touches the ground and rules that apply once it has touched the ground - the NCAA Rulebook does no such thing. So the NFL has two different rules for a batted airborne fumble and a batted fumble that has hit the ground - again the NCAA Rulebook makes no such distinction. Furthermore, the NFL Rulebook uses all kinds of highly specific language for the latter case (i.e., loose ball that has hit the ground) because the only thing that is illegal for a batted airborne fumble is for it to be batted forward and the term "forward" is relative to the team in possession of the ball prior to fumble. Again, none of the highly specialized language for the latter case about player goal lines, etc... exists in the NCAA Rulebook contrary to your bullshit claims!
IOW, if a fumble pops into the air near the sideline, it is perfectly legal to bat the ball backwards RELATIVE TO THE TEAM IN POSSESSION by any player in both the NFL and NCAA. The NFL has created an entire subsection for fumbles that touch the ground and rules that apply to bats once a fumble has touched the ground (including highly specific language that differs substantially from the former situation). The NCAA makes no such disinguishment and only uses the terms "forward" and "backward" relative to the team in possession throughout in its "Rule 9, Section 4 Batting and Kicking" (the term forward and backward are tied to the team in possession which is why the NFL has an entire paragraph of specialized language using team goal lines etc. for their latter case where the ball hits ground. Again, there is no such distinguishment in the NCAA Rulebook contrary to your bs claims).
Under the NCAA Rulebook, "forward" and "backward" are absolutely relative to the team in possession of the ball and it was not an illegal bat. Your claim that the NFL rule, not the NCAA rule, applies here is complete horseshit. You're essentially claiming the NFL rule applies and had the ball popped into the air and the PSU player batted it backward to save it from going OB, it would be legal, but that once the ball hit the ground, the rule changes... You're flat wrong, the NFL makes this distinction, but the NCAA rule makes no such distinction.