So... how many games can you think of that had controversial clock-keeping? If you don't count games involving the cheaters, I can think of 2 pretty quickly: Alabama-Auburn in about 2013 (the "Kick-6"), and about 2008 or so, Nebraska played Texas in the Big-12 championship game, and there was question about whether there was 1 second left. And by "controversial", I simply mean that there was discussion on whether there should be 1 second left. I think the officials got both right in the end. But that's not my point.
How about if we include games with the cheaters, I can throw out 4 more games:
1. 2001 or 2002 - Michigan State just happened to have a guy named "Sparty Bob" running their clock. There was question over whether there should be 1 second left or if he stopped the clock too soon. I think it was determined that he got it right.
2. 2005 - Cheaters were driving to score winning touchdown against Penn State. With 31 seconds left, Llllllllloyd called timeout, but they took 2 more seconds off. He complained, and the refs agreed - put 2 more seconds back on the clock. With 1 second left, they scored the winning touchdown. I think the referees were right, which helped Ohio State, but it makes me feel sick to defend the cheaters.
3. 1997 - The cheaters are beating Washington State in the Rose Bowl by about 5. Washington State needs a couple of miracles to win it. They threw deep, which got them to about the 50. They run up to the line, spike it, and then you see 1-2 more seconds ticking down to zero. Washington State should have had 1 more play. It would have been another miracle, but they got boned out of a try.
4. Last night.
I understand that Ohio State lost to Sparty in the mid-70s from a controversial call with the clock. But still, that's only 3 non-TTUN games compared to 4 TTUN games that I could come up with.
Is this going to be on highlight reels? "Best plays of 2026!!!" How can you celebrate a play that shouldn't have been? And everyone knows it.
