College football faces another clock controversy after BYU upsets Notre Dame
Unbeaten No. 8 BYU beat No. 2 Notre Dame in a dramatic finish, ending the Irish’s 16-game winning streak and disrupting the national rankings and College Football Playoff picture. The result was followed by a one-second clock controversy, as a clip circulated online after the teams had left the field, prompting questions about whether the final play had ended the game.
BYU led 21-10 at half-time, then fell behind before quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw a late touchdown to Walker Lyons for a four-point lead. Notre Dame converted a fourth-and-five with four seconds left, but the final play ended without a penalty; the article gives no further detail on the disputed clock moment. Earlier, Notre Dame lost defensive lineman Boubacar Traore to a targeting ejection and had a late first-half spike ruled a fumble. Notre Dame next faces Navy after a week off, while BYU travels to UCF.
- BYU upset No. 2 Notre Dame.
- The Irish’s 16-game winning streak ended.
- A clip prompted fresh questions about the final second.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A one-second discrepancy can matter in a close game, so reviewing the clip and explaining exactly when the play ended would help ensure the result was decided under the rules. Clear, consistent clock procedures protect the fairness of the contest and public confidence in officials.
The case against
A clip circulating after the teams had left the field, without further detail about the disputed moment, is not by itself evidence that the result was wrong. Officials must make rapid decisions in real time, and reopening a game over an uncertain one-second claim could undermine settled results without establishing that the rules were misapplied.