The No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish suffered a stunning 28-24 defeat to the BYU Cougars on Saturday night, a result that significantly complicates their College Football Playoff trajectory. However, former NFL referee and current rules analyst Terry McAulay has publicly confirmed that critical officiating errors likely cost the Irish a final opportunity to secure the victory. The controversy centers on the game’s concluding sequence, where Notre Dame trailed by four points and faced a first-and-goal situation with seconds remaining on the clock.
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McAulay identified two distinct failures in the officiating process that warranted immediate replay review. First, he noted that the game clock appeared to have one second remaining when quarterback CJ Carr threw a pass toward wide receiver Jaden Greathouse in the back of the end zone. Had the replay booth correctly identified the remaining time, the clock would have reset, granting Notre Dame an additional play to attempt a game-winning score. Second, McAulay emphasized that the non-call on potential pass interference against Greathouse was a significant oversight, as the receiver appeared to be held while falling to the ground.
The lack of a flag on the final play drew immediate criticism from broadcast analysts, including ESPN’s Matt Austin, who stated the contact “warranted a flag” and would have supported a defensive pass interference call. This incident highlights the high stakes of College Football Playoff positioning, where a single missed review or clock error can alter the season’s outcome for top-ranked teams. For Notre Dame, the loss to BYU not only ends their winning streak but also raises serious questions about the consistency of officiating in high-profile marquee matchups.
Source: Yahoo Sports
