The Oregon Ducks were celebrating their big victory against No. 2 Ohio State when it came out that the penalty that they committed with 10 seconds left on the clock was actually done on purpose. With 10 seconds left, head coach Dan Lanning called a timeout and put a 12th man on defense on the field in order to help prevent a big play so the Buckeyes could get into field goal range.
The ball was snapped, and the play was run, a play that took four seconds off the clock, and the Ducks were able to prevent a big play, and there was only time left for one more play on the clock.
Most fans were probably scratching their heads as to how the Ducks could commit such a thoughtless penalty that would give the Buckeyes five free yards. However, it was done on purpose because the Ducks were willing to give up five yards instead of a bigger play in order to put the Buckeyes in field goal position.
Lanning talked about the play after the game, and while he didn't see specifically that it was on purpose, he said that his group has planned for situations like that in close games.
The Ducks outsmarted the NCAA, and now they are changing the rules. Now, if a game is the same situation as it was in the Oregon vs. Ohio State game if a penalty such as 12 men on the field, the penalty would be enforced, and the clock would be reset to the amount of time left prior to the play starting.
Basically, the penalty would give the opponent the yardage but would be penalized by the clock being run down. This takes away the defense having any gain for committing the penalty.
Oregon benefitted from the rule before the change, but now, because they admitted to what they did, they will never get to do it again. The Ducks outsmarted football, and now, because the NCAA is unhappy about it, they're just going to change the rules.
This seems a little unfair. Teams could have been doing this for years, but nothing changed until the golden child Ohio State lost because of it. Just seems a little convenient that the NCAA is changing the rule now.