ACC Says Miami's Game-Winning TD Should Not Have Counted, Suspends Officials
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DURHAM, N.C. (CBSMiami) -- On Sunday, the ACC announced the officiating crew from Saturday's Miami-Duke game has been suspended for two games. All of them.
The ACC outlined four mistakes that were missed by referees during a wild finish that saw the game end on an 8-lateral, 75-yard kickoff return touchdown, including a missed replay opportunity that showed a Miami player's knee was down.
In a news release, the ACC said officials should have also penalized Miami for an illegal block in the back at the Hurricanes' 16-yard line during the return, as well as penalize the team's bench for entering the field during the play.
While a flag was thrown on the play, the ACC said the replay ref was not involved in the decision to pick up the flag -- which would violate NCAA replay rules -- and the on-field crew made the decision to waive the penalty off.
"The quality of our officiating program is of the highest importance to the league and its schools, and the last play of the game was not handled appropriately," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford in a released statement.
The University of Miami had some fun with the ruling on their Twitter account Sunday, simply offering a shrug to an outcome that's locked in the books.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) November 1, 2015