Miami (Ohio) got hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Tuesday night, not for a late hit or a celebration, but for something far more sneaky: they put depictions of the field goal uprights on their stadium scoreboard during an Ohio field goal attempt. This wasn’t some accidental glitch, folks. This was a “diabolical” move that officials caught, but it’s just the tip of an iceberg that’s been floating around sports for years.
The “Diabolical” Play That Blew Up
It all went down at the end of the first half. Ohio’s Brack Peacock lined up for a 34-yard field goal, a kick that would have given the Bobcats a 20-7 lead heading into the locker room. He missed it. But then, the refs stepped in. “On the previous play, there were depictions of the field goal uprights on the scoreboard. That is a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct against Miami,” the official announced. Boom! Half the distance to the goal, automatic first down for Ohio. You can practically see the disbelief from Peacock’s vantage point. It just doesn’t feel sportsmanlike, does it?
With only six seconds left after the penalty, Ohio tried to capitalize. Magnus Haines fired a pass to Evan Herrman on first-and-goal, but it fell incomplete, sending the teams to halftime still with Ohio down by a field goal. You’d think that penalty might shake Miami. Nah. They came out in the second half and absolutely dominated, dropping 27 unanswered points to win the “Battle of the Bricks” 34-17. So, the trick didn’t directly cost them the game, but it sure opened some eyes.
This Isn’t Miami’s Original Sin: The History of Videoboard Shenanigans
Here’s the wild part: Miami (Ohio) is no pioneer in this particular brand of visual deception. This kind of video board trickery has a history. Oklahoma State pulled a similar stunt back in 2020 during a game against Texas. Instead of outright uprights, the Cowboys lined their videoboard with a bunch of yellow vertical lines during a field goal attempt. Texas head coach Tom Herman was not happy, and he took his complaints straight to the Big 12.
That incident actually forced the NCAA to change the rulebook. Months later, they specifically stated that “video board and lighting system operators have been included in those personnel who may not create any distraction that obstructs play.” Their current football rulebook is clear, banning “any noise or distraction that prohibits a team from hearing its signals or obstructs play” (Rule 1-1-6) and stating “No equipment may be used to confuse opponents” (Rule 1-4-2-d). Yet, it keeps happening! One Reddit user even spotted Indiana doing the same trick against UNT earlier this season, and somehow, they avoided a flag.
And it’s not just the college ranks, either. The NFL caught wind of this mess and specifically banned the “chicanery” earlier this season. Why? Because former NFL team analytics expert Ryan Paganetti spilled the beans on what he called “a diabolically clever piece of Patriots gamesmanship” that had been going on for over a decade! He found dozens of examples where the Patriots would put a rear angle of the kick on their videoboard at Gillette Stadium, sneakily adding another pair of uprights to the kicker’s line of sight, but *only* when the road team was kicking. The Philadelphia Eagles apparently tried to copy it, but their stadium’s video board setup wouldn’t allow it. Want a mind-blower? This video board trick was even visible on one of the most infamous plays in Baltimore Ravens history, Billy Cundiff’s missed 32-yarder in the 2012 AFC championship game that sent the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
This isn’t just about one penalty on one Tuesday night. This is about a tactic that’s been exploited for years, even after rules are put in place to stop it. Miami (Ohio)’s penalty is a stark reminder that some teams will try anything to gain an edge, and it’s up to the officials to stay sharp. What other subtle, visual tricks are happening out there that we’re still missing?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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