Most commonly, this takes the form of a celebration after a score (see below) or a play in which the quarterback intentionally throws a live ball at the ground.
It is principally used when a team is conducting a hurried drive late in a half, and the game clock is running after the previous play.
In both cases, just before such spike, the clock was stopped with just 2 seconds left (while the sideline chains were being moved for 1st down, the usual procedure when playing under college football rules).
[2] In 2020, Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper, against North Carolina State, spiked the ball on fourth down, and with one second left, when the Orange had an opportunity otherwise for one last play.
[5] On November 3, 2018, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spiked the ball while the clock was stopped with nine seconds left before halftime.