The Hokies led early.Pittsburgh stormed back.
Both teams traded blows in the second half.Ultimately, the Hokies missed what would've been a game-winning kick wide to the left in the waning seconds.John Love No.
17 of the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks an extra point in the first half against the Pitt Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct.2, 2026.
(Getty Images)And by "wide to the left," I mean ...well, I'm not sure.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.
DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!The ball appeared to slip just inside the left upright by the slimmest of margins.I'm talking razor thin.
I'm talking Florida-in-the-2000-election thin.The fans, as you'll see, thought Va.Tech kicker John Love made the kick, thus sending the Hokies to the program's first 5-0 start in years.
Love himself thought he made it, too.The refs, though, threw a wet blanket on the whole thing.Take a look:Thoughts? First impressions?Initially, I thought it was good.I was watching this game live, and couldn't figure out why the ESPN announcers weren't saying anything about it.
They completely glossed over the entire thing.There was barely even a replay.
It was insane.I was screaming at my TV.I was sure it went in.
I might still be?MICHIGAN-WESTERN MICHIGAN CLOCK CONTROVERSY LEAVES PLAYERS, FANS AND A RULES ANALYST PUZZLEDVirginia Tech Hokies kicker John Love reacts after missing a game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct.2, 2026.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)Obviously, because we live in the social media era, other angles have emerged of the kick.Some help Virginia Tech's case, like this was taken from a fan directly behind the goal posts:To me, that makes it look like a made field goal.
The reaction from the students around this guy confirm that line of thinking.It looks good to me.
It looked good to them.Not all angles help Va.Tech, though.
Others make the refs...