Full Breakdown
Notre Dame’s Season-Ending Loss Marred by Clock Error and Missed Call
By Drooid · · How we work
The Controversial Finish
On Saturday night, No. 2 Notre Dame faced No. 8 BYU in a game that ended 28-24 in favor of the Cougars. With one second remaining, quarterback CJ Carr launched a pass to receiver Jaden Greathouse in the end zone. The ball hit the ground incomplete, but replay officials cleared the play without reviewing the stadium clock. Video later showed that the game-clock bug displayed :01 at the moment of the catch, meaning Notre Dame should have been granted one additional play.
Big 12 Review and Official Response
The conference announced it will conduct a complete review of its end-of-game officiating process before the next week’s contests.
Analyst Criticism
- “I think it warranted a flag,” — Matt Austin, ABC rules analyst
- “As some have noted, there was indeed :01 on the bug clock when the pass hit the ground (BYU/ND),” — Terry McAulay, NBC rules analyst
- “That had to be reviewed immediately,” — Mike Pereira, fox rules analyst
These analysts argued that the missed defensive pass-interference call on BYU cornerback Evan Johnson and the failure to verify the clock were “embarrassing” errors that should have been corrected immediately.
Impact on Rankings and Playoff Outlook
The loss drops Notre Dame in the AP Top 25 and threatens its positioning for the College Football Playoff selection, as the team’s only defeat now carries the weight of a disputed officiating decision.
What’s Next
The Big 12’s forthcoming review of its replay and clock-management procedures is slated for completion before the conference’s upcoming games, with any recommended changes expected to be communicated to officials and teams shortly.