Miami (Ohio) was hit with a rare unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Tuesday night after displaying three sets of goalposts on the video board during an Ohio field goal attempt.
The incident occurred at the end of the first half in a Mid-American Conference clash between Miami (Ohio) and Ohio. With two seconds left on the clock, Ohio lined up for a 34-yard field goal to extend their lead. During the kick, Miami’s video board showed images of three separate sets of uprights behind the actual goalposts. Officials flagged the RedHawks for unsportsmanlike conduct, a call seldom seen in college football.
The penalty moved Ohio to first-and-goal from the eight-yard line. Rather than attempt another field goal after missing the initial kick, Ohio chose to try for a touchdown to push their lead to three scores. Miami’s defense stepped up, stopping the Bobcats with just two seconds remaining in the half, preventing a potentially disastrous situation for the RedHawks.
Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin saw his team rally from a 17-0 deficit to score 34 unanswered points in the second half. The RedHawks shut out Ohio after the break and completed the comeback with a 34-17 victory. The win handed Ohio its first loss in conference play and tightened the top of the MAC standings, where four teams currently share one loss. Miami sits just behind that group with a 4-2 conference record.
The unusual penalty stemmed from Miami’s attempt to disrupt Ohio’s kicker. While it’s common for schools to show a live feed of the kick on the Jumbotron, sometimes offsetting the image of the goalposts to distract the kicker, Miami’s choice to plaster multiple sets of uprights on the screen crossed a line. The referees determined that this crossed into unsportsmanlike conduct, citing the intent to create confusion.
Social media users quickly picked up on the rare call, with one clip showing the video board’s unusual display and the officials throwing the flag. The RedHawks’ unusual penalty became a talking point, but it did not cost them the game.
Miami’s defense deserves credit for holding Ohio to just three points in the first half after the penalty and shutting them out completely in the second half. The RedHawks’ ability to regroup after falling behind early helped them secure bowl eligibility with the win.
The game also served as a reminder of the fine line between acceptable gamesmanship and outright penalties. This incident will likely be referenced in future discussions about what is allowed on stadium video boards during kicks.
Miami (Ohio) avoided what could have been a costly mistake thanks to their defense and maintained control in the second half. The unusual penalty made headlines, but it was Miami’s on-field performance that ultimately decided the game.
According to CBS.