Down 28-13 with 6:22 left to play in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss put together two epic drives that could have given the Rebels a chance to push the game to overtime – but a controversial spot in the final seconds of the game at the goal line spoiled the Rebels’ comeback against California.
After an 88-yard touchdown drive put the Rebels within a score of the Bears, and John Rhys Plumlee led the Rebels from their own 10-yard line to a first-and-goal in the final minute. With no timeouts remaining, Plumlee completed what looked like a touchdown pass to Elijah Moore with 13 seconds remaining, but the side judge spotted the ball on the very edge of the goal line, and the clock continued to run.
With no way to stop the clock on fourth down, Ole Miss hurried to the line and tried a quarterback sneak, but were stopped by Cal to end the game.
Officials could have stopped the game to review whether or not Moore had crossed the plane to score a touchdown, but no review was triggered. Replays show that Moore’s feet were in the endzone as he caught the ball, and while it’s difficult to tell where the ball was in relation to the plane from the replay angles available, the outcome of the play was so crucial that a review should have been a no-brainer.
Ole Miss deputy athletic director Keith Carter wrote in a statement that he was “extremely disappointed with the officiating,” and expects an explanation from the Pac-12. A Pac-12 crew was used for the game.
Fans watching the game were stunned.
