Home / Sports / Clock Error Costs Notre Dame Play vs. BYU
Clock Error Costs Notre Dame Play vs. BYU
19 Oct
Summary
- Officials failed to review a clock error favoring BYU.
- One second should have remained for Notre Dame's final play.
- Experts deemed the officiating blunder 'embarrassing'.
No. 8 BYU secured a 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame, but the game's conclusion was marred by a significant officiating mistake. On the final play, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr's pass fell incomplete with what replays indicated should have been one second remaining on the clock.
This crucial second would have allowed Notre Dame one more opportunity from BYU's 8-yard line. However, officials did not review the game clock, prematurely ending the contest. The Big 12 conference subsequently admitted that time remained on the clock and that their replay officiating crew erred by not intervening.
Prominent rules analysts, including Fox's Mike Pereira and NBC's Terry McAulay, expressed strong disapproval. Pereira described the miss as 'embarrassing for all officiating' and noted it was a clear error unrelated to judgment. McAulay agreed that a review was necessary to confirm the remaining second and award Notre Dame its final play.
ABC's rules analyst, Matt Austin, also suggested that a defensive pass interference flag should have been thrown on the play. This clock controversy follows a similar incident six weeks prior, further highlighting issues in end-game officiating procedures.
