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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/magnumapplepi on 2025-09-18 02:03:00+00:00.
QB Nicco Marchiol took off running just before the half ended, he was tackled around the Pittsburgh 42-yard line. Then a late hit came flying in.
Refs flagged the hit for unsportsmanlike conduct. WVU figured (perhaps rightfully so) that would result in a 15-yard penalty and a chance to kick a field goal on the final play of the half.
The officials ruled that because the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was a dead ball foul, there would be no additional play granted on an untimed down.
“Well it depends on the timing,” ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said. “If the clock was at zero when the foul occurred, this will be enforced in the second half. If there’s a second left, then they would take it now.”
Marchiol was down with one second remaining on the clock. However, officials didn’t agree, and said the half was over.
The announcer said because WVU didn’t have any timeouts they didn’t get the free down.
Just an utterly bizarre sequence. Has this ever happened before? And what recourse does the affected team have in this situation? It seems like Pitt just got a free shot on the QB.