Big Ten acknowledges penalty error in Nebraska–Maryland game
The conference said Nebraska should have been allowed to retry a missed extra point, with penalty yardage applied.
The Big Ten acknowledged on Monday night that officials wrongly handled a roughing-the-snapper penalty late in Nebraska’s 48–23 win over Maryland. After Nebraska scored its final touchdown, kicker Kyle Cunanan missed the extra point.
The conference said Nebraska should have been given another attempt, with the penalty yardage applied half the distance to the goal. Instead, the miss stood and the penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said a miscommunication with an official contributed to his decision to have the penalty enforced on the kickoff. Rhule recalled asking whether Cunanan had made the kick and being told that he had; Rhule said he then chose the kickoff enforcement. He later acknowledged his own part in the confusion.
Five members of the crew had also officiated Michigan’s controversial finish against Western Michigan the previous month. CBS Sports reported that review protocols were not followed when officials considered whether to add a second to the clock.
Rhule had also criticised the Nebraska–Maryland officiating, a game in which the teams were assessed 28 penalties for 247 yards. The Big Ten’s statement addressed the penalty enforcement error; the source material does not establish that it affected the game’s result.
