ESPN’s Brock Osweiler had some questions on Saturday night after the Miami Hurricanes benefited from a controversial replay ruling for the second week in a row.
Cal led No. 8 Miami 38-32 with less than two minutes remaining Saturday night, when Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe hit Golden Bears QB Fernando Mendoza in what appeared to be a case of targeting. Mendoza had to be helped off the field.
For anyone who missed it, this was the play in question. pic.twitter.com/5ubAy5xRpl
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 6, 2024
Yet there was no flag on the play, and after an official review, the no-call stood.
Osweiler, working the game with play-by-play man Rece Davis, appeared stunned by the replay decision.
“Back-to-back weeks Miami is in a situation where it comes down to replay and you question if the officials are getting the calls correct,” Osweiler said. “I do not know by the definition of the rulebook, how that is not targeting.
“I’m not saying Wesley Bissainthe did that intentionally, I think he’s just reacting, playing good, hard, tough football, but by definition, that is 100% targeting.”
“Back-to-back weeks Miami is in a situation where it comes down to replay and you question if the officials are getting the calls correct. I do not know by the definition of the rulebook, how that is not targeting.”
– Brock Osweiler pic.twitter.com/dIt0dLdbF3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 6, 2024
Miami got the ball back via the punt and went on to score a touchdown to win 39-38 and remain undefeated.
Social media lit up with furious fans blasting the questionable no-call, with many pointing out the ACC’s interest in keeping the Hurricanes undefeated might be influencing calls.
The only explanation that this has happened now 2 weeks in a row is that the acc is interfering and making sure these calls go Miami’s way. Each review took forever. Which even further feeds the theory that they’re getting the call from the ACC. This is a terrible look for them https://t.co/P3tGRQEf8m
— Long Live the Pirate 🏴☠️ (@BigGeorge6953) October 6, 2024
The ACC has an inherent financial interest at this point to ensure that Miami is as highly ranked as possible. People shouldn’t be surprised. https://t.co/ftxuaALJ7n
— Drew Bryant (@BrewDryant) October 6, 2024
The ACC officials have done more to protect Miami in the last two weeks than they’ve done for FSU in 30 years https://t.co/tvNSm0MmuC
— Hank Lee (@hanklee89) October 6, 2024
Periodic reminder that replay review is an opportunity for the powers that be to leverage gray areas in rules to manipulate contests toward a preferred outcome. https://t.co/PkQk1dQ0X0
— Mikey in DFW (@MDWDFW) October 6, 2024
As Osweiler noted, Miami benefited from a similar ruling in a 38-34 win last week over Virginia Tech.
When Davis pointed out officials might not have seen clear evidence of targeting, Osweiler said it might be time to change the rule.
“If we have to get to the point where a magnifying glass has to come out to get the calls correct, we might need to look at changing the way some of these rules are written,” Osweiler said.
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
