The entire sequence was a cluster by everyone involved.
Florida got a first down, but tackled in bounds with 8 seconds left and no timeouts left. So the clock was temporarily stopped, but will start running on the whistle. What Florida should have done was lined up quickly, then spiked the ball with 2-3 seconds left to kick the game-winning field goal.
But here’s what actually happened:
Florida tried to spike it, but while they were lining up to spike it, their FG team ran onto the field, then ran off the field. The ref stood over the ball to let Arky sub for about 2 seconds, then quickly backed away. Everyone knows the defense is supposed to get as long as they need to sub, but this ref chose to give them 2 seconds. So Florida spikes the ball, and the refs throw a flag. The flag is for illegal substitution by Florida. Everyone knows that means a 10 second run-off, which means regulation should be over. But no. The refs make up a rule, saying that since Florida got a first down, there’s no 10 second run-off. (Well, in the LSU-Bama game, LSU just had nearly the exact same scenario happen, and the refs said LSU elected to take a timeout so a 10-second run-off would not happen. So why did LSU have to take a timeout after they got a 1st down to avoid a 10 second run-off, but Florida didn’t get a 10 second run-off when they were out of timeouts? It makes no sense! No consistency!)
So, the refs said the clock would start on the whistle for Florida. This ruling basically means any team with no timeouts could purposely commit a penalty after getting a 1st down and face no consequences. So…Florida gets their FG unit onto the field with 8 seconds left, and the clock will start on the ref’s whistle, not the snap. So the FG unit needs to be alert to the game clock ticking down. They need to hustle.
But what does Arkansas do? Arky bails Florida out by taking a timeout. Now the clock definitely has no chance of running out. Timeout with 8 seconds left, and Florida can now take their time lining up for the FG. Unbelievable.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Because Arky won in OT, but it was unbelievable to me how both head coaches and the refs were so incompetent during that entire sequence. It was the most frustrating moment I have ever experienced as a college football fan, and as a Tennessee fan, that is saying something.
