The Big 12 officially admitted its replay operations center screwed up, costing Arizona State a critical call in Saturday’s 27-20 loss to No. 8 BYU, marking the second time in three weeks the conference has owned up to an officiating error in a Cougars game. That one-score win kept BYU, now 7-1 after bouncing back from their UCF loss, right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race, but man, does this call leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.
The First Quarter Chaos That Became Seven Points
This whole mess went down on BYU’s very first offensive drive. It was second-and-goal from the one-yard line. Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier tried to sneak it in himself, but he fumbled the ball. Running back Sione Moa picked it up and managed to get across the goal line. Initially, the refs blew the whistle, ruling Bachmeier was down at the one. But then, after one review, they said Bachmeier *did* fumble, and BYU recovered it right there at the one. Still no touchdown, right? WRONG. After a *second* review, the Big 12’s replay operations center somehow decided to overturn it and award BYU the touchdown. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was on the sidelines, jawing at officials, totally seeing red, but it was no use. The call stood, and seven points went on the board that should have never been there.
The Rule is Clear, So Why The Blunder?
Postgame, the Big 12 flat out said they messed up. The correct call? Moa’s fumble recovery should have ended the play right there at the two-yard line. According to conference rule 12-3-3-d-2, if the replay official rules the ball wasn’t dead, it belongs to the recovering team, which was BYU, at the spot of recovery and *cannot be advanced*. Meaning that touchdown? ZERO CHANCE it should have counted. BYU should have been looking at third-and-goal from the two, not celebrating seven free points. Dillingham summed up the frustration perfectly to ESPN, saying he argued that while a player can recover it post-whistle, “that’s not a clear advancement, which means the ball should be at the 3.” He was right, but it did not matter. He was also quick to say it was not the on-field refs’ fault, putting the blame squarely on “all back home” at the replay center. This is just brutal for Arizona State, and for the integrity of the game.
Another week, another Big 12 replay controversy, and it is happening with a team pushing for the College Football Playoff. With BYU sitting at 7-1, every single game and every single point matters. This just throws a huge cloud over what was already a tight win and puts a massive spotlight on the conference’s replay process. What happens next time?
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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