NCAA changes rule, closes 12-player loophole Oregon football used in win over Ohio State

Posted by Admin October 16, 2024 Football

The NCAA has modified how an illegal substitution penalty is assessed in the aftermath of the controversy late in Ohio State’s 32-31 loss at Oregon on Saturday.

Following a rules interpretation issued Wednesday, offenses could have the option of getting the game clock reset if the penalty by the defense occurs within the final two minutes of a half.

When the Ducks were flagged for an illegal substitution, resulting from cornerback Dontae Manning stepping onto the field as a 12^th defender, it cost them 5 yards, but took four seconds off the clock.

Before the flag, the Buckeyes had possession at Oregon’s 43-yard line with 10 seconds left and needed to move within the range of kicker Jayden Fielding in order to attempt a potential game-winning field goal.

With only six seconds left following the penalty, quarterback Will Howard scrambled for 12 yards, but time expired before the Buckeyes could call their last timeout.

Had the penalty not caused any time to come off the clock, the Buckeyes would have been able to bring out Fielding for a 43-yard field goal.

“A goal of this in-season interpretation is to eliminate a potential clock advantage for committing a substitution foul and take away any gain for the defense if they violate the substitution rule,” said Steve Shaw, the secretary rules editor for football.

The Ducks, who called a timeout before the penultimate play, appeared to commit the illegal substitute penalty on purpose.

Dan Lanning, the third-year Oregon coach, grinned when asked about it Monday.

“There’s some situations that don’t show up very often in college football,” Lanning said, “but this is one that obviously was something that we worked on, so you can see the result.”

According to the NCAA’s news release outlining the interpretation, the game clock will not be adjusted if the extra defender is attempting to exit the field and has no effect on the play. Only a 5-yard penalty would be issued. For the clock to be reset, 12 or more players must be participants on a down.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.