Time’s Up: NCAA Closes Loophole on Intentional Penalties
In a bold move, the NCAA has shut down a clever tactic employed by Oregon to shave precious seconds off the game clock in their recent win over Ohio State. The new rules interpretation, announced on Wednesday, aims to prevent defenses from intentionally committing penalties to gain an advantage.
The Original Ploy
Oregon coach Dan Lanning revealed that his team had deliberately used 12 men on defense to run down the clock in the final seconds of their 32-31 victory. Just before the snap, defensive back Dontae Manning walked onto the field, giving the Ducks an extra defender. Although Ohio State failed to complete a pass against Oregon’s 12-man defense, the Ducks were flagged for an illegal substitution penalty, surrendering 5 yards but also taking four seconds off the clock.
The NCAA’s Response
NCAA football secretary-rules editor Steve Shaw explained that the new interpretation is designed to “take away any gain for the defense” from committing an intentional penalty. “Football is a very dynamic game,” Shaw said. “Occasionally there are specific situations where committing a penalty can give a team an advantage. A guiding principle of the NCAA Football Rules Committee is that there should be no benefit when a team commits a penalty.”
The New Rules
Under the revised rules, if the defense has 12 players actively participating in the down, the offense can choose to accept a 5-yard penalty and have the game clock reset to the time displayed at the snap. However, if one of the 12 players is attempting to leave the field and did not affect the play, no time change will be made.
Fair Play Restored
The NCAA’s swift response ensures that teams can no longer exploit loopholes to gain an unfair advantage. As the game of football continues to evolve, the NCAA remains committed to upholding the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
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