Big 12 apologizes after disputed touchdown decides BYU-ASU game

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier fumbled a quarterback sneak on second-and-goal from the Arizona State 1-yard line. Running back Sione Moa recovered the ball and rolled into the end zone after officials initially ruled Bachmeier’s forward progress had stopped.

The Big 12 replay booth reviewed the play and overturned the ruling, awarding BYU a touchdown. Fox broadcast team members Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III, and rules analyst Mike Pereira said they could not understand why the call was reversed.

“This is three weeks in a row where we’ve had Big 12 officials just making up rules as they go.”

Pereira explained that once the runner was ruled down, the play was dead. He said a recovery could be credited but the ball could not be advanced unless a new rule had been created.

Pereira also noted that Moa recovered the ball at the 2-yard line, meaning under NCAA rules the touchdown should never have counted. BYU won the game by exactly seven points.

Hours after the game, the Big 12 issued an official apology and admitted the officiating blunder. The conference said the scoreboard would not change despite the apology.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham confronted BYU coach Kalani Sitake at midfield after the final whistle. BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga was also seen exchanging heated words with Dillingham.