The Big 12 acknowledged an officiating error that incorrectly awarded BYU a touchdown during the Cougars’ 27-20 win over Arizona State on Saturday.
The controversial play came early in the first quarter with BYU facing second-and-goal near the Arizona State goal line.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier attempted to run the ball into the end zone but lost possession before the play was over. BYU running back Sione Moa recovered the fumble near the goal line and was ultimately awarded a touchdown following a replay review.
But according to the Big 12, that was the wrong call.
The conference released a statement after the game explaining that because Bachmeier lost possession before the forward progress spot, BYU should have retained possession at the spot where Moa recovered the football. Under NCAA replay rules, the recovering player was not permitted to advance the fumble.
“Replay was incorrect in awarding a score,” the Big 12 said in its statement.
The correct ruling should have given BYU the football for third-and-goal from the Arizona State two-yard line rather than awarding the Cougars a touchdown.
The mistake proved particularly notable considering the final margin.
BYU went on to beat Arizona State 27-20, meaning the seven points awarded on the incorrect replay ruling matched the Cougars’ eventual margin of victory.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Arizona State would have won the game had the call been made correctly. BYU would still have had third-and-goal from the two-yard line and could have scored on the next play.
But it’s nevertheless a significant mistake for the conference to acknowledge, particularly after replay officials stopped the game specifically to review the play and still arrived at the incorrect ruling.
Arizona State eventually erased a 17-3 halftime deficit and tied the game at 17 in the third quarter before BYU scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth.
The victory moved the Cougars to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play, keeping BYU one game behind undefeated Utah in the conference standings.
