SMU field goal controversy: Mustangs' kick vs. Miami ruled no good after going over post

Story by

Story by
SMU field goal controversy: Mustangs' kick vs. Miami ruled no good after going over post

SMU field goal controversy: Mustangs' kick vs. Miami ruled no good after going over post

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sat, Nov 1, 2025 ·

2 min read

About Our Ads

Field goal controversy nearly doomed Southern Methodist against No. 9 Miami .

It was a close contest at Gerald J. Ford Stadium with the Hurricanes leading 20-17 with less than seven minutes left in the game. SMU was driving into Miami territory when the drive stalled thanks to a holding penalty and failed trick play. On fourth-and-21 from the 25-yard line, the Mustangs opted to kick a field goal to try to tie the game.

Kicker Sam Keltner got great power on the 42-yard field goal attempt, but it went right over the right goal post. Given that it went over the post rather than hit it, it was tough to tell if the kick was good or not. The officials ruled it no good, which stunned Keltner and the Mustangs .

Was SMU field goal good?

The call on the field certainly confused SMU players and fans, many of whom believed it should have been ruled good and the game should be tied.

On the ESPN broadcast, rules analyst Jerry McGinn said the ball must completely be inside the uprights in order to be ruled good.

"Even one piece of the football cannot be on top of that upright. It appears it goes directly over the upright, it's a great call," McGinn said.

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Fans take down the goal posts after the Southern Methodist Mustangs defeat the Miami Hurricanes in overtime at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Fans run on to the field after the Southern Methodist Mustangs defeat the Miami Hurricanes in overtime at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Fans run on to the field after Southern Methodist Mustangs defeat the Miami Hurricanes in overtime at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Trey Wilson #14 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs celebrates with fans after defeating the Miami Hurricanes at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

Nov 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Former player Michael Irvin (left) and former President George W. Bush (right) look on before the game between the SMU Mustangs and the Miami Hurricanes at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(Jerome Miron, Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

According to NCAA rules, "The crossbar and uprights are treated as a line, not a plane."

Fortunately, Keltner was able to avenge the miss by knocking in a 38-yard field goal with less than 30 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, SMU intercepted Miami on the opening drive and followed it with a touchdown to win the game 26-20.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Was SMU FG good? Mustangs' kick over post ruled no good by ACC refs

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by:

SMU field goal controversy: Mustangs' kick vs. Miami ruled no good after going over post

Was SMU field goal good?

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset

See SMU football fans tear down goal posts, rush field after Miami upset