The thrilling atmosphere of college football took center stage on Wednesday night during a Conference USA matchup between Jacksonville State and Middle Tennessee. ESPN2 commentators Clay Matvick and Chase Daniel witnessed an astonishing sequence of events as the first half drew to a close.
Unbelievable Play Shakes Conference USA Matchup
With just four seconds remaining in the second quarter, Middle Tennessee faced a crucial 4th-and-4 challenge at the Jacksonville State 48-yard line. Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato launched a Hail Mary pass, which was intercepted by Gamecocks safety Caleb Nix at around the five-yard line of his own territory.
A Wild Sequence Unfolds
What followed was nothing short of chaos. Nix returned the interception and attempted to toss the ball back into play as he fell out of bounds near the Middle Tennessee 25-yard line. Jacksonville State’s Travis Franklin grabbed the ball and sprinted towards the end zone, reaching the two-yard line before he too fell.
- The ball rolled forward into the end zone.
- Walker O’Steen of Jacksonville State recovered it for what was initially declared a touchdown.
Commentators Matvick and Daniel humorously dissected the play, expressing their astonishment. “There is so much to unpack and so much wrong with what we just saw,” Matvick noted, adding, “They called it a touchdown on the field!”
Aftermath of the Play
However, confusion reigned as the officials reviewed the play to determine its validity. Ultimately, it was concluded that Nix had stepped out of bounds before tossing the ball. As a result, the touchdown was nullified due to an illegal forward pass.
Despite the unbelievable turn of events, Jacksonville State secured a hard-fought 24-21 victory over the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro. This play will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most astonishing moments of Week 10 in college football.
