Big Ten admits penalty mistake in Maryland - Nebraska

15 hours ago

2 min read

Maryland's 25-point loss could have been a 26-point loss instead. According to the Big Ten, it should have been.

Nebraska's final touchdown of the day after QB Anthony Colandrea connected with WR Kwazi Gilmer for the second straight drive, putting the Huskers ahead 48-23 in what proved to be the 20th point allowed by Maryland's defense in the fourth quarter. Yet the extra point attempt then hit the crossbar, though Nebraska appeared to get another opportunity after Maryland was called for illegal contact. The refs announced that Nebraska elected to enforce the yardage on the ensuing kickoff, instead allowing the result of the mixed extra point to stand.

Per the conference, Nebraska should have earned another extra point attempt with the penalty yardage enforced half the distance to the goal, adding, "the Big Ten has been in contact with its officiating team from Saturday’s game regarding the error and will continue to emphasize consistent application of the playing rules."

Though the missed extra point didn't factor into the game, it marked the first career miss for Nebraska kicker Kyle Cunanan, while the penalty marked one of 12 for Maryland and 28 between the two teams in a game that spanned nearly four hours.

Michael Howes of The Baltimore Sun noted that six of the ten referees who called Maryland's road loss vs. Nebraska also called the controversial week one meeting between Western Michigan and Michigan, which ended with the NCAA ruling they did not have the power to overturn the Wolverines' last-second hail mary win to open the regular season.

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