BYU benefits from another replay mistake in latest Big 12 controversy

BYU has benefitted from yet another replay mistake.After the No.8-ranked Cougars defeated Arizona State 27-20 on Saturday, the Big 12 admitted that BYU was erroneously awarded a touchdown in the first quarter after Cougars running back Sione Moa advanced a fumble by quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

Bachmeier lost the ball at the 1-yard line on second-and-goal, and Moa recovered at the 2-yard line.In revealing that the play should’ve been blown dead where Moa recovered the ball, the Big 12 cited a rule that says the ball “belongs to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery and any advance is nullified.”“Replay was incorrect in awarding a score,” the Big 12’s statement said, per ESPN.That decision loomed large in a game that was decided by seven points and improved BYU to 7-1 after it was stunned by UCF in double overtime the week prior.BYU and Arizona State were tied 17-17 entering the fourth quarter.A BYU field goal put them ahead with 12:08 left in the fourth, and a Moa 1-yard touchdown run gave them a 10-point lead with 2:09 remaining.

Arizona State kicked a field goal with 57 seconds left.After BYU’s upset of then-No.2 Notre Dame on Oct.

17, the Big 12 said there should’ve been one second left on the clock after what ended up being CJ Carr’s final pass attempt fell incomplete in the end zone on first-and-goal from the BYU 9-yard line.Instead, the game was ruled over.There was also an obvious defensive pass interference on that final play that wasn’t called.

The biggest game left on BYU’s schedule comes next Saturday, when it visits undefeated Utah in a battle for first place in the Big 12.Utah entered Sunday ranked No.6 in the country....