The Oregon Ducks may have jumped through a loophole, but that loophole can no longer be accessed.
The NCAA announced changes to a rule on Wednesday after the Ducks exploited a loophole to their advantage. While Oregon did nothing wrong, it will not be allowed to happen again.
“In a release Wednesday, the NCAA issued a new rules interpretation on how to handle a penalty for 12 players on the field in the final two minutes of either half,” an ESPN.com article read. “If the defense has 12 players actively participate in the down, the offense can choose, along with the 5-yard penalty, to have the game clock reset to the time that had been displayed at the snap.”
ESPN.com noted, “No time change would be made if there were 12 players, but one of them was attempting to leave the field and did not affect the play.”
Against Ohio State, Oregon found a loophole before one of the game’s final plays. The Ducks drew 12 players out on the field with less than ten seconds remaining. Following an incomplete pass, the Ducks had to eat a penalty. But time ticked off the clock, putting Ohio State in a less-than-advantageous position with a few seconds remaining.
But now, that won’t ever happen again after the NCAA’s quick move to change the interpretation.
