Minnesota and UNLV kicked off the season in a game that took three overtimes to decide late last night. It was a sloppy game between two teams that combined for five wins last year that you could have watched if you stayed up until nearly 3 a.m. in the east and happened to know that the CBS Sports Network channel is something that actually exists.

At the end of the game, possibly one of the more disastrous football plays you can imagine nearly happened (although it's not quite as funny as running the wrong way attempting to return your own punt). It was a tie game with 41 seconds left in the 4th quarter when this play happened. Pay special attention to color commentator Aaron Taylor's reaction to the play.

 
I believe Taylor said, "Oh my God. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. WUHUHUH." That was probably similar to what I was saying to myself like an idiot at 2:15 in morning as well. The play was ruled a touchback and there would be bonus football.
 
A muffed punt in a tie game with under a minute to play that goes 10 yards backwards into the endzone for either a safety or a touchdown has to be about one of the most crushing ways imaginable to lose a game. Well, an interception in the third overtime (that was nearly returned for the ultra rare walkoff touchdown) and ensuing clinching field goal by the Gophers to lose the opener isn't much better I suppose.