The NCAA has decided to close a loophole that Oregon used to manipulate the game clock during their recent win over Ohio State. In a new rules interpretation, the NCAA stated that if a defense has 12 players on the field in the final two minutes of either half and actively participates in the down, the offense can choose to reset the game clock along with a 5-yard penalty. However, if one of the 12 players was attempting to leave the field and did not impact the play, no time change would be made.
Oregon’s head coach, Dan Lanning, admitted that the team intentionally had 12 men on the field during the closing seconds of the game to help run time off the clock. This strategy worked in their favor as Ohio State failed to complete a pass against the 12-man defense, resulting in an illegal substitution penalty for Oregon but also taking four seconds off the clock. This move ultimately helped the Ducks secure a 32-31 victory over the Buckeyes.
However, NCAA football secretary-rules editor Steve Shaw made it clear that such intentional penalties to gain an advantage will no longer be allowed. The NCAA aims to ensure that there is no benefit for a team when they commit a penalty, emphasizing fair play and sportsmanship in college football.
Moving forward, teams will not be able to exploit this loophole to manipulate the game clock, as the NCAA has taken steps to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. This decision aligns with the NCAA Football Rules Committee’s principle of maintaining fairness and integrity in the game of football.
Overall, this ruling serves as a reminder that while teams may try to find creative ways to gain an edge, the NCAA is committed to upholding the rules and ensuring that the game is played with honesty and respect for the sport. The integrity of college football remains a top priority, and the NCAA will continue to make adjustments to prevent any potential exploitation of the rules for a competitive advantage.
