COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Seconds after South Carolina's Pharoh Cooper crossed into the end zone capping what appeared to be a game-winning 94-yard touchdown catch on fourth down, the giant video board switched to a shot of grass with a big splash of yellow.
A penalty flag had been thrown at the other end of the field.
A false start for South Carolina erased Cooper's TD, and a disappointing year took another embarrassing turn as the Gamecocks lost to a FCS opponent. Worse, the 23-22 loss Saturday was to The Citadel.
Cooper's play never looked dead, although a few players said they heard a whistle with not everyone running full speed.