Notre Dame and Florida State played one of this season’s best college football games Saturday night, but it came with some controversy.
The second-ranked Seminoles escaped with a 31-27 win over the visiting No. 5 Fighting Irish, although it looked for a second like Notre Dame would pull off the upset.
In fact, the Irish appeared to have the game won in the final seconds, whe. Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson found wide receiver Corey Robinson wide open in the flat. Robinson easily waltzed into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, though, there was a flag on the field.
The officials determined there was offensive pass interference on the play. Notre Dame used two wide receivers to get Robinson open, and the Irish was flagged for what essentially was a pick.
The penalty pushed the Irish back 15 yards, and their final desperation play went for an incomplete pass, giving Notre Dame its first loss of the season.
Unsurprisingly, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly wasn’t happy with the call.
“We execute that play every day,” Kelly told reporters after the game, according to The Associated Press. “And we do it legally and that’s the way we coach it. We don’t coach illegal plays.”
Regardless, it certainly looks like the right call was made.
GIF via SB Nation
Thumbnail photo via John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports Images
