Oregon coaches exploited a loophole in the rulebook and it could result in in-season action from the NCAA.
With 10 seconds left in the Ducks’ win over Ohio State on Saturday, the Buckeyes were driving to get into range for what would have been a game-winning field goal when Oregon called a timeout. After the stoppage, the Ducks sent 12 defenders onto the field for a third-down play that resulted in an incomplete pass and left Ohio State with just six seconds on the clock.
Unlike the NFL, NCAA rules do not reset the clock to where it was before the snap when a 12-men penalty is assessed, meaning Oregon essentially traded having an extra defensive back on an obvious passing down for a five-yard penalty that burned four seconds off the clock — a savvy move that is now garnering scrutiny.