NCAA Investigates Coaching Decision by Oregon Ducks
The NCAA is investigating a coaching decision that “exploited a loophole in the rulebook” during the Oregon Ducks’ 32-31 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning confirmed that they intentionally used a 12-men penalty while Ohio State attempted to position themselves for a field goal on the final drive. With 10 seconds left, the Ducks called a timeout and placed 12 defenders on the field, resulting in an incomplete pass for Ohio State and leaving them with only six seconds remaining. Notably, NCAA rules do not reset the clock after such a penalty.
Lanning remarked, “We spend an inordinate amount of time on situations… [this] is one that obviously we have worked on.”
Ross Dellenger reported that Oregon’s strategy has prompted the NCAA to ensure this loophole isn’t utilized to the defense’s advantage in future games. Steve Shaw, the NCAA secretary rules editor, noted that the NCAA Football Playing Rules Committee is actively reviewing the play for potential action. While the Big Ten officiating crew handled the situation correctly, discussions are underway regarding adjustments to the rules.
The investigation might lead to interpretation bulletins being released throughout the season, directing officials on how to manage similar situations in the future. Dellenger anticipates that the probable response could be to revert the game clock to its original time before the penalty to discourage this strategy, which initially appeared to be a clever tactic by Lanning and his staff. However, this approach may soon become obsolete due to the NCAA’s scrutiny.
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