Mario Cristobal, Miami shoot themselves in the foot in excruciating loss

Every time an Oregon fan watches Mario Cristobal and Miami play, they send a silent prayer of thanks for Dan Lanning.

Leading 20-17 with 1:09 to play, the Hurricanes had SMU 4th and 9 on their own 48, down to their last play.

Mario Cristobal called timeout just before the snap. Officials blew the play dead.

And Hurricanes edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot plowed into Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings. A flag for unnecessary roughness gave SMU a fresh set of downs and new life, first and 10 at the Miami 47.

Jennings drove his team 69 yards in 11 plays to set up a tying field goal and send the game into overtime. The No. 10-ranked Canes were 10.5-point favorites coming into the game, but they committed 12 penalties for 96 yards while allowing 365 yards passing from the dangerous junior quarterback.

It got worse when Miami quarterback Carson Beck threw a pick at the goal line in overtime.

On six straight runs SMU drove for a clinching touchdown, T.J. Harden plunging over left tackle from a yard out to seal another classic Cristobal collapse, the Canes' playoff hopes on life support at 7-2.

Just a couple of weeks ago they dropped a gave at home to unranked Louisville 24-21. They can always be counted on to lose one or two they shouldn't.