USC's Lincoln Riley frustrated by officials' explanation for replay reversal vs. Minnesota

Did the officials ultimately get the pivotal call correct? Did they employ the proper standard in assessing whether to overturn the on-field call? While the answer to the former question may never be known, the answer to the latter question is clear: The replay officials failed to apply the purportedly objective standard for determining whether to overturn a ruling on the field.

Per CBS Sports, USC coach Lincoln Riley was irritated by the explanation given to him by Big Ten officials for the replay reversal:

"The explanation that we got on the last play was that they believed or thought that the runner had scored and they felt like that was enough to overturn it. I have not been given any explanation why [they] ignored the part of the rule that obviously states that to overturn something that it has to be absolutely, completely clear cut."

In reviewing the video footage of the controversial play, it is not only unclear whether Brosmer ever crossed the plane of the end zone, but also he fumbled the ball, and it is not apparent whether he was down before the fumble. The ball ended up in the hands of a USC defender.

"[W]hen you get those sneak plays like that, nobody can see the ball. The first time you see the ball, it's on the ground," Riley said.

Riley further noted that the officials admitted to him they did not know when the ball "came out."

While the relevant NCAA rule specifies that on-field calls are not to be reversed in the absence of "indisputable video evidence," Riley told reporters that Big Ten officials "agree that it's not indisputable" that Brosmer crossed the plane of the end zone.

Questionable replay rulings have become a recurrent theme in the 2024 college football season.