What happens when a team attempts to kick a field goal on fourth down and it does not succeed?

When a team attempts to kick a field goal on fourth down and the attempt is unsuccessful, the correct outcome is that it results in a turnover on downs. This means that the opposing team takes possession of the ball at the previous spot where the play was initiated.

This enforcement aligns with the rules governing fourth down situations in football. When a team decides to go for a field goal on fourth down and fails to successfully kick the ball through the goalposts, they essentially do not meet the objective required on that down, which is to either score or gain a new set of downs. Therefore, the opposing team is granted possession at the location of the kick, allowing them an opportunity to take control of the game from that point.

In other scenarios, such as a touchdown or having the down replayed, these outcomes wouldn't apply to a failed field goal attempt in this context. A touchdown can only be scored through specific plays, not just by failing to convert a down, and replaying the down would only occur under different conditions typically associated with penalties or timeouts.