Well, this was not the comedy we expected.
With 30 seconds left in the third quarter of Washington’s crucial Pac-Whatever-It-Is-Now game against Utah, Huskies linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala intercepted a pass from Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes, and had a clear path to the end zone.
Except for one little thing — Tuputala dropped the ball a yard before the end zone, which made it a fumble, and Utah offensive guard Michael Mokofisi recovered the ball at the Utes’ own one-yard line.
Jason Benetti was all over this being a fumble while Washington celebrated a (not) touchdown. pic.twitter.com/5PxOqHDA9K
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 11, 2023
Here’s the even more bizarre thing — the Huskies were actually rewarded for this blunder. On the very next play, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was tackled in the end zone for a safety, giving the Huskies a 35-28 lead.
No one is more relieved about this safety than Alphonzo Tuputala, who dropped the ball before he went into the end zone on a would-be pick six pic.twitter.com/3Gkj7Ll4ds
— Ensign Gridiron (@EnsignGridiron) November 11, 2023
As yo might expect, social media was all over this one.
This two-play sequence is DRUNK.
Washington’s Alphonzo Tuputala picks off Bryson Barnes.
He takes it back 75 yards and drops the football on the 1-yd line.
Utah recovers.
On the very next play, the Huskies get a safety.
College football is the beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/F5t2oHygeM
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 11, 2023
Alphonzo Tuputala had the pick-six but dropped the ball at the 1-yd line 😮
Tough. pic.twitter.com/UgKGWQdDVF
— ESPN (@espn) November 11, 2023
If you can spot 11, this is how Alphonso Tuputala was received on the UW sideline after dropping the ball 1 yard short of a pick six. A lot of players came over to him. pic.twitter.com/js9b1IlMCG
— Alyssa Charlston (@Alyssacharlston) November 11, 2023
Alphonzo Tuputala to DeSean Jackson
‘Hold my beer’ https://t.co/dbGYKUTjwN
— Weston Komathy ⚾️🏈🏒🏀 (@WesSportsGuy) November 11, 2023
Alphonzo Tuputala just pulled a Kaelin Clay lol
— Vince D. (@vDodun) November 11, 2023
OH MY GOD PICK SIX BUT HE DROPS IT PRIOR TO THE GOAL LINE NOOOOOOO FUCKING WAY WASHINGTON PULLED A DESEAN JACKSON. ONE OF THE WORST MISTAKES IVE EVER SEEN. IM SICK.
— T-BILL (@tbillnw95) November 11, 2023
Fumbling a pick-six at the 2 yard line to set up a safety and subsequent possession of the football is actually a plus EPA play so
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 11, 2023
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) November 11, 2023
