This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a frenzied multi-lateral play not work out for the offense this season, but what happened between Western Michigan and Ball State on Saturday was absolutely wild — even by #MACtion standards.
With 29 seconds left in the game, the Cardinals kicked a 22-yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead over the Broncos in a game with the MAC West on the line. Western Michigan’s next drive began on its own 39-yard line, and the Broncos moved up 10 yards before attempting this ridiculous touchdown attempt with just six seconds remaining.
After 13 passes back and forth, the Broncos failed to hold onto the ball, and it looked like Ball State recovered the ball. Not quite. As the Cardinals rushed the field to celebrate prematurely, the Broncos picked up the ball and continued trying to score, lightly weaving through swarms of opposing players.
Eventually, sophomore wide receiver Skyy Moore ended up with the ball again and took off for the end zone, seemingly ending this pandemonium with a game-winning touchdown. (Cut to flashbacks of Cal-Stanford in 1982.)
CHAOS 🤯
Both teams ran onto the field before the play was ruled dead as Western Michigan attempted a last second TD.
Ball State went on to win the game and division title after the Broncos were penalized for an illegal forward pass. pic.twitter.com/yzjVTBgJ5b
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 12, 2020
Absolute chaos.
But unfortunately for Western Michigan, officials overturned the touchdown and penalized the Broncos for an illegal forward pass somewhere in there. Our best guess is around the 21-second mark in the ESPN video where the ball appears to be thrown around the 32-yard line and caught near the 34-yard line. Both teams were also handed unsportsmanlike penalties.
Here’s another look at the play and doesn’t cutaway after Western Michigan dropped the ball:
Wild last play for Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com/tsdBQFwIFM
— Justin A. Cohn (@SportsiCohn) December 12, 2020
Whether or not you think the Broncos were fairly penalized for an illegal forward pass, college football Twitter loved this — though no one was happy for the broadcast cutting away an a very in opportune time.
EVERYBODY IS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND THE BALL IS STILL ALIVE FOR WESTERN MICHIGAN AND BALL STATE pic.twitter.com/eHxXNT0wp4
— Abdul Memon (@abdulamemon) December 12, 2020
HOLY CRAP BALL STATE WENT ON THE FIELD TOO EARLY AND WESTERN MICHIGAN SCORED A TOUCHDOWN IT'S PROBABLY COMING BACK BUT WHATEVER SOMEBODY GET THE VIDEO pic.twitter.com/YPB5PwuRxL
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 12, 2020
The ending to Western Michigan-Ball State is the most #MACtion thing of all time.
Ball State came on the field early, WMU scored a touchdown, and the TV feed cut out as the ref made the penalty call 😨 pic.twitter.com/zLbg3u5vF8
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) December 12, 2020
do you know what it takes for me to tweet about a MAC college football game? what just happened in Ball State/Western Michigan quite possibly the most absurd sequence i have ever seen in the sport. And now the TV feed is gone as mayhem ensues.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 12, 2020
Me trying to figure out what exactly happened in Ball State-Western Michigan pic.twitter.com/976CBUEavH
— br_betting (@br_betting) December 12, 2020
The last play of Western Michigan – Ball State was utter chaos, the only thing missing was a band on the field (first flag is forward lateral, TD did not count) pic.twitter.com/O6WeCXnNAN
— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) December 12, 2020
How did this #WesternMichigan crazy ending not count? 😂😂 come on you gotta give the boys that #GamblingTwitter https://t.co/pOeCBwnfl3
— Lindy Intel – Sports Picks (@LindyIntel) December 12, 2020
I missed the end of the Ball State and Western Michigan game earlier and it is *insanity* pic.twitter.com/D9EW3aoxmL
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 12, 2020
If you thought the Rutgers play from earlier this year was wild, take a look at how Western Michigan almost beat Ball State #MACtion pic.twitter.com/9isowHEQIa
— CFB Pylon (@TheCFBPylon) December 12, 2020
