Big 12 says replay wrongly awarded BYU a touchdown against Arizona State

The Big 12 acknowledged after No. 8 BYU's 27-20 victory over Arizona State on Saturday that an incorrect replay decision gave the Cougars a first-quarter touchdown. The conference said BYU should have retained possession near the goal line without being awarded the score.

The disputed sequence came during the Cougars' opening offensive possession. Facing second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, quarterback Bear Bachmeier ran up the middle and lost the ball. Running back Sione Moa recovered the fumble and carried it into the end zone.

Officials first blew the play dead, ruling that Bachmeier's forward progress had ended at the 1-yard line. A replay review changed that decision to a fumble recovered by BYU at the 1. The play underwent another review, after which the conference's replay operations center in Irving, Texas, determined that a touchdown should be awarded.

In its postgame statement, the Big 12 said the proper recovery spot was the 2-yard line and that Moa's subsequent advance should not have counted. The conference cited Rule 12-3-3-d-2, explaining that the applicable ruling leaves possession with the recovering team at the recovery spot and nullifies any advance. BYU therefore should have faced third-and-goal from the 2.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham challenged the decision during the game, arguing that recovering the ball did not permit BYU to advance it. After the loss, he expressed disappointment and explained that he believed the ball should have been placed at the 3-yard line. He directed responsibility toward the replay operation rather than the officials on the field.

The controversy made this the third straight week in which a BYU game included questionable officiating decisions. Following the Cougars' 28-24 win against Notre Dame on Oct. 17, the Big 12 acknowledged that another second should have been restored to the clock, allowing the Fighting Irish a final opportunity to win.

A separate ruling arose in BYU's 39-31 double-overtime loss at UCF the previous Saturday. The Cougars blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt on third down, and UCF kicker Will Stone recovered the ball. Stone would have had an opportunity for another potential winning kick, but officials ruled that his helmet coming off during the play required a 10-second runoff. The game proceeded to overtime.