In one of the most bizarre endings to an NCAA football game you are likely to see for a while, the match between Ball State and Western Michigan saw both sidelines rush the field in apparent celebration. With each squad believing they were the victor of the final regular season game–following a flurry of lateral passes, flags, and even a touchdown–officials were left the unenviable task of sorting through the mess.
Chaos and mayhem don't begin to describe this NCAA football game. Check it out for yourself:
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
While Ball State was incorrect in assuming that the play had been called dead before rushing the field, the Cardinals were saved from a loss by a penalty flag for an illegal forward pass by Western Michigan. For their part, the Broncos were likewise unaware of the illegal motion before they rushed the field, following an apparent touchdown by the special teams unit that had to maneuver their way around the entire Ball State roster already on the turf.
In nullifying the score, Ball State officially won the match and beat out Western Michigan for the MAC West division title. For two universities known for their public research, you would think at least one possessed the wherewithal to determine when a game was really finished.
As it turns out, however, that may not actually be true.