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Big Ten releases statement on critical officiating mistake in Oregon-UCLA
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- Big Ten releases statement on critical officiating mistake in Oregon-UCLA
The Oregon Ducks were denied at the goal line on a pivotal 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game against UCLA. Those two points wound up being the difference in a 17-15 loss to the Bruins , but the Ducks were doomed by a critical officiating error.
The Big Ten released a statement Sunday confirming that the officials at Autzen Stadium spotted the ball incorrectly on Oregon's second attempt at the 2-point conversion. Because of a penalty against UCLA on the Ducks' first attempt, the ball should have been placed at the half-yard line, but it was instead placed at the 1.5-yard line.
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"Following the first attempt that resulted in a personal foul penalty for a facemask on the UCLA defense, the ball was spotted for the second attempt half-the-distance to the goal from the original line of scrimmage of the first attempt," the conference's statement read. "Per rule, the ball should have been spotted half-the-distance to the goal from the end of the run of the first attempt. The Big Ten has been in contact with its officiating team from Saturday's game regarding the error and will continue to emphasize consistent application of the playing rules."
After Evan Stewart scored on an improbable 44-yard catch-and-run, the Ducks had to go for two to tie the game with 2:16 remaining in regulation. On the first attempt, Oregon quarterback Brock Thomas rushed up the middle, but his facemask was grabbed by a UCLA defender, preventing him from crossing the goal line.
The officials announced in the stadium that the ball would be placed at the half-yard line, but it was never properly spotted. Dan Lanning did not appear to argue the placement of the ball.
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On Oregon's second attempt, Thomas handed the ball off to Jordon Davison, who has been excellent on goal-line carries throughout his career in Eugene. However, he was stuffed just a half-yard short of the goal line, proving that those few inches made all the difference.
CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore noted the mistake after the game, questioning why the ball was spotted further from the goal line than it should have been after the penalty.
Oregon had plenty of chances to win the game, but seven turnovers doomed the Ducks to the upset loss. But the incorrect placement undoubtedly had an impact on the final score, as the Ducks could have forced overtime if they had converted on the 2-point try. As a result, the Ducks fell out of the AP Poll for the first time since 2022, when Lanning first took over the program.
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The Ducks will have a chance to bounce back next week at home against Nebraska under the bright lights at Autzen Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Big Ten releases statement on critical officiating mistake in Oregon-UCLA
