Top 3 Most Controversial Clock Decisions in College Football

These infamous games were marred by officiating errors or highly debated interpretations of timing rules, directly impacting the outcome and sparking lasting controversy.

The top 3

  1. The 'Fifth Down' Game (1990): In a game between Colorado and Missouri, officials mistakenly granted Colorado a fifth down on their final drive, which they used to score the game-winning touchdown as time expired, leading to widespread controversy.
  2. Miami vs. Ohio State 2002 BCS National Championship: A highly controversial pass interference call against Miami in the first overtime extended Ohio State's drive, allowing them to tie and eventually win the BCS National Championship, with many debating the validity of the late flag.
  3. Michigan's 'Extra Second' vs. Western Michigan (2026): Officials controversially added one second back to the clock after a review, allowing Michigan to complete a game-winning Hail Mary against Western Michigan, despite initial broadcast clocks showing time had expired.

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