This weekend will be one to remember for the Oregon Ducks, who have started the season 6-0 following a crucial win over Ohio State.
The Ducks squared up with the Buckeyes as conference rivals for the first time this Saturday, having joined the Big Ten this year, hosting Ryan Day’s side in a clash that makes the phrase “down to the wire” seem euphemistic.
Ohio State was unable to get into field goal range in the dying moments due to the Ducks bending the rules by purposely adding a 12th man to get a deliberate penalty and shave valuable seconds off the clock.
Check out the video below to see exactly how they did it.
you NEED to watch how genius this is 👀
:10 left, Oregon calls a timeout
they intentionally add a 12th man late to ensure no big gain occurs
ball is snapped, no big gain
obviously it’s a penalty BUT
1) :04 ticks off clock
2) no big gain:06 left
only time for 1 play
WIN pic.twitter.com/2MouQanBK8
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 13, 2024
Fans Want A Rule Change After Realizing How The Oregon Ducks Finessed The System
Some fans admitted the above was genius from the Ducks, but they felt the rules should be changed to put more time back on the clock.
Others felt like the loss was on Ohio State as they got extra yardage and kept a timeout with six seconds left to play.
“Giants did the same thing to the Patriots in Super Bowl 46, Coughlin put a 12th man on the field the play before the Hail Mary. Extra defender, 5 yard penalty, time ticked off the clock, really smart,” someone noted.
“I feel like that exposed a dumb rule. Hopefully they change it going forward. Great game though,” another wrote.
“This was incredibly smart. I was sitting at the house curious why they wouldn’t put the 4 seconds back on the clock and call it a pre-snap penalty to have 12 men on the field before the snap.
“I guess I just never understood that rule either,” someone admitted.
Check out some more reactions below:
That’s Coaching to win right there!
— Murray (@Coastal_Daddy) October 13, 2024
Calling this genius is a stretch…if Ohio St simply calls a run and dives for 5 yards the next play they get the TO and have a 50 yard FG
— FantasyGolfInsider (@FantasyGolfers) October 13, 2024
That’s the dumbest logic I’ve ever heard in my life. Ohio State needed 15 yards to get in field goal range. So you gift them 5 yards, let them keep their timeout, and then give them a chance to get another 5-10 with 6 seconds left? Be forreal brother. This was on Ohio State and…
— Buckeye HQ (@RealisticBuck) October 13, 2024
We’ll have to wait and see whether the NCAA will revisit this rule in the offseason, but the Ducks have taken full advantage while they can.
