The Big 12 Conference has acknowledged two officiating errors in recent games involving the BYU Cougars, including a replay review mistake in a win over Arizona State and a clock miscalculation in a victory against Notre Dame.
Big 12 Admits Replay Error in BYU-Arizona State Game
On Saturday, September 21, the Big 12 released a statement confirming that replay officials incorrectly awarded a touchdown to BYU in the first quarter of its 27-20 win over Arizona State. The conference stated that the correct ruling should have placed BYU at the 2-yard line on third down, not awarding a touchdown. The error occurred when BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier fumbled at the 1-yard line, and running back Sione Moa recovered the ball. Officials initially ruled Bachmeier’s forward progress had stopped, but after two replay reviews, they awarded the touchdown. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham contested the call, citing NCAA Rule 12-3-3-d-2, which states that any advancement after a fumble recovery is nullified if the ball was not dead at the time of recovery.
Big 12 Acknowledges Clock Error in BYU-Notre Dame Game
In a separate incident, the Big 12 admitted that officials failed to recognize one second remaining on the clock during BYU’s 28-24 upset over then-No. 2 Notre Dame on September 14. The error occurred in the final seconds of the game, when Notre Dame drove to the 8-yard line with four seconds left. A pass fell incomplete, but replays showed the stadium clock read 0:01 when the ball hit the ground. The Big 12 confirmed the mistake and announced it would review its end-of-game officiating process.
Reactions and Broader Context
Arizona State’s Dillingham expressed frustration after the loss, stating that the officiating crew followed protocol but the rule application was incorrect. He noted, “Those officials don’t have say in that. That’s all back home.” The Big 12 has pledged to conduct a complete review of its officiating procedures ahead of the following week’s games.
The two errors follow a pattern of controversial calls involving BYU this season. The Cougars have now benefited from multiple officiating mistakes in close games, raising questions about replay review consistency and the potential impact on competitive fairness. The Big 12’s admissions come amid broader scrutiny of conference officiating standards across college football.