The Big Ten stepped in Sunday to address the late-game mistake that surrounded Oregon’s final two-point try in Saturday’s 17-15 loss to UCLA in Eugene.
With 2:16 left in the fourth quarter of UCLA’s win over Oregon, officials handled the Ducks’ second conversion attempt incorrectly. Oregon’s first try was stopped, then a facemask call on UCLA gave the Ducks another shot. Instead of moving the ball half the distance to the goal from the end of the run on the first attempt, the crew spotted it half the distance from the original line of scrimmage.
That distinction mattered. By rule, the ball should have been placed half the distance to the goal from where the first attempt ended. Oregon was stuffed again on the retry, and the missed chance left UCLA with the two-point edge that held up at the finish.
The conference’s statement made the error plain:
"Following the first attempt that resulted in a personal foul penalty for a facemask on the UCLA defense, the ball was spotted for the second attempt half-the-distance to the goal from the original line of scrimmage from the first attempt. Per rule, the ball should have been spotted half-the-distance to the goal from the end of the run of the first attempt. The Big Ten has been in contact with its officiating team since Saturday's game regarding the error and will continue to emphasize consistent application of the playing rules."
The loss dropped Oregon to 3-2, and the Ducks will try to clean things up Saturday, October 17 against Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Nico Iamaleava Hit Has UCLA Fans Angry For Another Reason
A late-game hit on Nico Iamaleava has become a talking point for UCLA well beyond the snap itself, with fans still upset over how it was handled on the field. Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander was involved in the play after making a late attempt to punch the ball free from the Bruins quarterback, and no penalty was called in the moment.
The concern for UCLA only grew after coach Bob Chesney raised questions about the missed call and Iamaleavas knee injury. Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledged the late punch but said Alexander was not trying to cause harm, leaving Bruins supporters frustrated as the conference review failed to deliver the discipline many of them expected. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons QB Trouble Suddenly Matters A Lot To UCLA Fans
Oregons quarterback situation has become an immediate subplot for UCLA fans after Dan Lanning turned to senior walk-on Brock Thomas late in the fourth quarter of the Ducks loss to the Bruins. It was the latest sign of an offense that has struggled to find any rhythm, even before the unusual Big Ten officiating error in the UCLA game and the suspension of defensive lineman Bear Alexander added to the Ducks problems.
Now the focus shifts to what happens next, with Oregon awaiting clearance for redshirt senior quarterback Dante Moore as he works back from a concussion ahead of the Nebraska game. If Moore is not ready, the Ducks will have to piece together an answer under center, and for UCLA supporters, that uncertainty suddenly feels like it could matter a lot more than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Gets Honest About Costly Oregon Ending Vs UCLA
Oregons 17-15 loss to UCLA left plenty for both sides to sort through, but the conversation around the finish has centered on one sequence in particular. A controversial officiating error during a two-point conversion attempt, involving a face mask penalty and the balls placement, drew immediate attention after the game, and the Big Ten later acknowledged the mistake and said it was addressing the issue with its officiating team.
Dan Lanning was candid about the call, but he did not frame it as the reason his team came up short. The Oregon coach pointed to other performance issues as the larger story from the Ducks side, a reminder that even with a disputed ending, the game had already put them in a vulnerable spot before the final whistle. For UCLA, it was the kind of finish that can linger well beyond Saturday, even as the broader details continue to be reviewed. [Read more 🡒]