When a game becomes synonymous with its officiating, you know something went wrong. Referees are meant to uphold the integrity of the game, ensuring a fair and clean contest — not to impact the outcome. Yet, that was the case with the top 10 most controversial calls in college football history.
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Virginia Tech’s Fail Mary Against Miami – 2024
As the clock ticked to zero, Kyron Drones launched a Hail Mary into a sea of hands in the end zone, and for a brief, electrifying moment, it looked like Virginia Tech had pulled off the miracle. Da’Quan Felton came down with the ball, and the refs signaled a touchdown.
Pandemonium erupted — but it was short-lived.
After a lengthy review, the call was overturned, as a Miami defender touched the ball while out of bounds, making the pass incomplete.
Miami’s Illegal Lateral vs. Duke – 2015
With six seconds left, Duke thought they had sealed a 27-24 victory over Miami — until the Hurricanes pulled off an unbelievable eight-lateral kickoff return for a TD as time expired.
The stadium was in awe, but there was one glaring issue: the refs missed multiple crucial calls, including a Miami player being down before releasing the ball.
What should have been a Duke win became a controversial loss, and the officiating crew paid the price with a two-game suspension.
The ‘Canes Finally on the Wrong Side – 2003
In the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Miami was on the verge of back-to-back national championship victories after taking a 24-17 lead in overtime against Ohio State. Facing 4th-and-3, Buckeyes QB Craig Krenzel’s pass to Chris Gamble fell incomplete, and the Hurricanes stormed the field to celebrate.
Then, a yellow flag flew.
A highly controversial pass interference call against Miami’s Glenn Sharpe gave Ohio State new life. The Buckeyes tied the game and eventually won in double OT.
Colorado Defeats Missouri on Fifth Down – 1990
Pass interference is one thing, but miscounting downs? That’s a whole new level of blunder. In 1990, with Colorado trailing 31-27 and the clock winding down, QB Charles Johnson spiked the ball on first down from Mizzou’s 3-yard line. But the chain crew forgot to flip the down marker. After two failed runs by Eric Bieniemy and another spike, it should’ve been a turnover on downs.
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Instead, the Buffaloes were granted a phantom fifth down. Johnson took advantage, sneaking into the end zone for the win. Colorado went on to share the national championship, but the “Fifth Down Game” lives on as one of college football’s most infamous moments.
Central Michigan Gets Extra Play – 2016
Up 27-24 with just four seconds left on 4th-and-13, Oklahoma State tried to run out the clock by holding onto the ball before throwing it out of bounds. The Cowboys were hit with an intentional grounding penalty and loss of down, which should’ve ended the game.
Yet, the officials botched the rule — a game cannot end on a live-ball penalty … unless the penalty involves a loss of down — mistakenly allowing Central Michigan one last play. The Chippewas capitalized with a jaw-dropping Hail Mary and lateral for the game-winning score.
Oregon’s Failed Onside Recovery Reversed – 2006
The 2006 matchup between Oregon and Oklahoma featured one of the most controversial onside kicks in college football history. After the Ducks executed the kick, officials ruled that Oklahoma had recovered it, but that decision was overturned upon review.
The slow-motion replay clearly showed the ball had touched a Ducks player before traveling the required 10 yards. And even if it did pass the 10 yards, the ball still remained loose in the pile, ultimately being recovered by an Oklahoma player at the back of the scrum.
The fallout was significant. Oregon went on to score the final TD of the game, winning 34-33 in front of their home crowd. Replay official Gordon Reise took a leave of absence for the rest of the season and was demoted to technical assistant for the following year, and the officiating crew was suspended for a game.
Florida Wins on ‘The Catch?’ – 2000
With 14 seconds left, Florida QB Jesse Palmer fired a pass to Jabar Gaffney in the end zone despite tight coverage from Tennessee’s Willie Miles. The ball was punched away almost immediately, but after a quick huddle, the officials ruled it a touchdown, sealing a 27-23 Gators win.
The Volunteers, stunned by the call, saw their SEC Championship hopes vanish. Florida might’ve had another shot to score if the play had been ruled incomplete, but the uncertainty of that chance left Tennessee fans wondering what could’ve been if that controversial call had gone their way.
Nebraska’s Eric Crouch Turns Into an Owl on No-Call Facemask – 1998
With two minutes left, Nebraska was driving for a potential game-winning TD against Kansas State. Facing fourth down, QB Eric Crouch took the snap, rushed upfield, and was met by a K-State defender, who turned Crouch into an Owl by yanking his facemask 180 degrees.
No flag was thrown, and Nebraska turned the ball over on downs. Kansas State ran out the clock to secure the win, leaving Huskers fans furious and wondering how the officials missed what seemed like a blatant foul that could have changed the game’s outcome.
Justyn Ross’ Fumble That Wasn’t – 2019
Ohio State fans still feel the sting of two game-changing calls in their 29-23 loss to Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. The first came in the second quarter when CB Shaun Wade was controversially ejected for targeting after what looked like a clean sack on Trevor Lawrence.
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But the real gut punch arrived in the third quarter, with Ohio State down 21-16. Tigers WR Justyn Ross caught a pass, only for CB Jeff Okudah to force a fumble that S Jordan Fuller returned for a touchdown. The Buckeyes would’ve taken the lead, but after review, the officials overturned the call, ruling it an incomplete pass, despite Ross having clear possession of the ball for three steps.
Michigan Loses on Missed Fourth-Down Targeting – 2022
Michigan’s 51-45 loss to TCU in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl was marked by two highly debated calls. Roman Wilson’s downfield second-quarter TD was overturned, as he was ruled down at the 1-yard line, even though he didn’t possess the ball until crossing into the end zone. Michigan fumbled on the next play and came away empty-handed.
With under 40 seconds left in the game, a fourth-down targeting review saw officials let TCU off the hook despite a defender clearly lowering his helmet into TE Colston Lovelenad’s neck/shoulder area. The turnover on downs sealed the game, allowing TCU to kneel and secure their spot in the national championship.
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