College football fans spent most of the short week complaining about the lack of competitive games on the Week 2 schedule, so we probably should have expected some craziness Saturday.
It started early when Central Michigan went into Stillwater, Oklahoma, and stole a win for the MAC against Oklahoma State. The Chips needed a few breaks to hang around but got truly lucky that this incredible lateral touchdown play to win worked out in their favor.
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph was called for intentional grounding as time expired with the Cowboys holding a 27-24 lead. The officials awarded Central Michigan an untimed down at the 49-yard line, and that's when Jesse Kroll pulled in the Hail Mary toss from Cooper Rush and somehow shoveled the ball to Corey Willis before getting tackled. Willis then ran into the open field and across the goal line for the win.
According to the game rules, "The period is not extended if the foul is by the team in possession and the statement of the penalty includes a loss of down." Therefore, the change of possession and untimed down was unnecessary. The game could have ended after the penalty with Oklahoma State winning by three.
Instead, it's CMU providing the best instant finish of the season so far, knocking off Oklahoma State 30-27.
Let's count all the awesome wrinkles to the unlikely game-winning play.
1. An untimed down: When there's zeroes on the clock before the snap no one is rushing. The offense and the defense had time to set, raising the intensity to a peak just as the pass was in the air. Also, the untimed down itself was controversial!
Fox's ref expert saying game shouldn't be extended on offensive penalty that includes loss of down. O. M. G.
— Jenni Carlson (@JenniCarlson_OK) September 10, 2016
2. A Hail Mary: We haven't had a Hail Mary this good yet in 2016. We welcome the Hail Mary back with open arms.
3. A lateral: It wasn't hook-and-ladder, and it may not have even been planned, but somehow this Hail Mary-lateral worked.
Unbelievable! @CMU_Football shocks #22 @CowboyFB 30-27 with a ridiculous play to end the game! https://t.co/kOvdA4ldZq
— FS1 (@FS1) September 10, 2016
After the game, the officials admitted the untimed down should have never taken place.
"We've had the opportunity to run it back through our hierarchy, which includes the national rules editor, and he confirmed that should have been a loss of down and the end of the game at that point, so that extension should not have happened," referee Tim O'Dey said after the game.
The MAC office weighed in as well with an admission of the official's error and a clarification that the result of the game would not be changed.
"The Mid-American Conference officiating crew from Saturday afternoon's Central Michigan at Oklahoma State contest made an error on the final play of regulation. The crew made a misapplication of the rule and should not have extended the contest with one final play. Despite the error, this will not change the outcome of the contest."
Even though the play shouldn't have happened, Central Michigan will get the win and adoration from college football fans. Oklahoma State has plenty of reasons to be upset, but as concerning is the fact that this game was in a spot where CMU could attempt a Hail Mary to win in the first place.
Also, college football's decision makers aren't about to set a precedent of changing the result of games, even in the event of an official's error.