Texas vs Iowa State

[MD Longhorn]

Thoughts on the plays near the end (the two fumbles or possible fumbles)?

Disclaimer - I am a Longhorn, I'm aware of possible bias. I try to remove that when looking at plays, but it's not always easy or perfectly done.

First fumble - I truly believe his forward progress was stopped before the ball came out, but am more certain in saying it was impossible to see on review that the ball came out before forward progress was stopped. I do think the linesman/referee muddied the waters by calling him down by contact; where he really never was - and should have been ruled down by virtue of his forward progress being stopped.

Second fumble - OK, they ruled no fumble - on replay it appeared he lost the ball while still moving forward. However, what I was on replay was that the RB picked the ball back up, pulled it back to himself, tried to lunge again and lost it again. However --- does anyone else believe that the moment he picked the ball up and before he pulled it back in - the ball was over the goal line?!?! I thought they should have reviewed this and ruled the 2nd "fumble" to be a touchdown.

Back to the disclaimer --- I'm well aware that both of those plays I've ruled in Texas's favor; hence my posting of it here for more impartial viewpoints.

[InsideTheStripe]

Video can be seen here:

Paul Rhoads Goes On Rant For The Ages After Officials Screw ISU

[jTheUmp]

First play, I'm not sure why they'd call down by contact, but I can understand a "forward progress was stopped prior to losing the ball" ruling.

Definitely a fumble on the second play, but I can't tell from the camera angles in that clip who recovered it. Kinda surprised replay didn't get involved in that one, since an 'immediate recovery' can be reviewed even if the initial ruling had the runner down.

The lesson, as always: "see runner down with possession of the ball before you blow your whistle"

[JRutledge]

The first play looks like forward progress was stopped.

The second play is a fumble for sure.

Both plays seemed to be rather quick to call these plays dead.

Peace

[SE Minnestoa Re]

Not a fan of either team.

I can see where it was a really difficult play to call from the field. However, I think the replay official should have called it a fumble because forward progress was not called on the field. The whistle blew after ISU had possession of the ball.

[zm1283]

I don't see how in the first play the forward progress was stopped. If that player doesn't fumble and falls into the end zone, it would definitely be a touchdown. Really quick whistle and they missed it.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SE Minnestoa Re

Not a fan of either team.

I can see where it was a really difficult play to call from the field. However, I think the replay official should have called it a fumble because forward progress was not called on the field. The whistle blew after ISU had possession of the ball.

Well replay cannot determine forward progress under the current rules. And the whistle is not the issue. If the replay official was told this was a forward progress play and the ball was ripped out, then they could not overturn based on when the whistle blew.

Peace