Under what conditions does the clock stop when a team is awarded a new series?

The clock stops for a legal kickoff as this event marks the start of a new series for the receiving team. When a kickoff occurs, the receiving team gains possession of the ball, and the time is halted to ensure that all players on both teams are ready for the play to commence. This pause is crucial for maintaining order in the game and allowing the receiving team to have a fair opportunity to execute their next offensive play.

In contrast, the other scenarios do not cause the clock to stop when a new series is awarded. A run play that advances the ball typically would keep the clock running unless the play ends with a player going out of bounds or another specific situation occurs. A quarterback calling a timeout will only stop the clock if the timeout is granted; if the ball is still in play and there is a change of possession, the game clock continues to run. In cases where the opposing team gains possession of the ball, the new series starts for that team, but the clock does not stop as the defensive team takes over. Thus, the correct answer reflects the specific circumstance of a kickoff, where time is paused for gameplay reorganization.