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Big-10 Admits Officiating Mistake In UCLA Vs Oregon Game
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2026 6:38 am
by SuperDuck
I wish I'd kept a link to this, but I didn't.
Anyhow, they said that the mistake made was on the late 2-point conversion attempt.
After the facemask penalty, the officials spotted the ball half the distance to the goal.
However, it should have been spotted half the distance to the goal "from the end of the run".
It definitely would have put the Ducks closer. Would they have made the attempt from there is hypothetical, but it was still a potentially costly mistake.
Thoughts?
Here's one of several links I found about it.
https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footba ... 58096.html
Re: Big-10 Admits Officiating Mistake In UCLA Vs Oregon Game
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2026 10:29 am
by UOducksTK1
Ya it's a big mistake for sure. But the 7 turnovers and the trash offense is a bigger mistake.
Re: Big-10 Admits Officiating Mistake In UCLA Vs Oregon Game
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2026 8:52 pm
by OrTDuck
I just rewatched the whole sequence. The ref announces it is half the distance to the goal. Ball is placed at the 1.5. The end of the run appears to be at about the one (possibly even a bit inside). Ducks start to line up. Refs stop the game and correct the call saying it was from the end of the run. UCLA coach starts to argue. Ball is picked up.
After hearing the correction, umpire comes back and spots the ball WHERE IT WAS INCORRECTLY SPOTTED before (1.5 yard line). Oregon tries to line up fast for a second time but Lanning comes out and starts arguing.
He eventually seems happy. The rules guy comes on and says it is half the distance from the end of the run, not the 1.5. BALL HAS STILL HAS NOT BEEN MOVED from the 1.5 yard line. The ball should be half the distance to the goal from about the 1.0 so at or near the 0.5 yard line. Oregon finally lines up and snaps from the 1.5.
My guess is Lanning thought he was getting the correct spot and assumed it was being done, the spot is never fixed, and the Ducks gets stopped on a play that gets 1 yard (just not 1.5 yards).
GoDucks.com lists the officials for the game in their summary, the umpire spotting the ball is listed (according to RefMetrics.com) as having refereed only 17 career college games in 3 and 1/2 seasons (and yes, spoiler alert for those who enjoy an occasional conspiracy theory, he is from Ohio). It could be argued it is a bit odd after all the arguing, delay, and clear announcement of how to assess the penalty, that the umpire kept putting the ball back in the original incorrect spot.
I mean, if you are confused, you have 7 other refs out there to check with.