Pass interference no-call mars end of Pac-12 championship game

On a day the Pac-12 conference needed a clean football championship game, they got to within 27 seconds of achieving that goal.

But, Washington’s 10 – 3 victory over Utah Friday night was partly upstaged by a pass interference non call as Utah was driving for the game-tying touchdown. Utah turned the ball over on downs, but Utah wanted pass interference on the fourth down incomplete pass.

Byron Murphy comes up with the PBU on 4th down! Washington is going to the Rose Bowl!! #PAC12Championship pic.twitter.com/Z1Hn5vHtA8

— #FreePhillipDorsett (@ftbeard_17) December 1, 2018

Dean Blandino said slow-motion replay makes the contact look earlier than in real-time.

In real time that’s a bang-bang play at the end of the game. If you go frame by frame it’s early. Officials on field obviously don’t see it in slow motion.

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) December 1, 2018

While we can understand why the officials made the no-call in real-time, they will see after the game that they should have thrown a flag.

The game ended a few moments later with Utah coach Kyle Whittington gesturing angrily at the officiating crew.

https://twitter.com/UtahUteFans/status/1068722042885697537

Earlier this year, Pac-12 officiating and instant replay came under fire after a report that showed Pac-12 executives, with no officiating training or experience, over-ruling instant replay decisions.

On Friday, the day of the Pac-12 championship game, The Oregonian came out with a comprehensive story  that exposed what former Pac-12 employees said is a toxic culture in Pac-12 leadership that helped contribute to the instant replay fiasco this fall. Current NFL official Tony Corrente used to supervise Pac-12 officials and he abruptly resigned in 2014, citing the Pac-12’s lack of support for officials. The article highlighted Corrente’s frustrations while at the Pac-12.

So the crowd was already in a mood when Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott presented Washington with the Pac-12 football championship trophy.

hmm how popular is Larry Scott? Let's go to the crowd audio feed: pic.twitter.com/MRA3xdBFnF

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) December 1, 2018

Washington will now go on to play in the Rose Bowl, most likely against the winner of the Northwestern – Ohio State Big 10 championship game.

And the Pac-12 enters the offseason with plenty of controversy swirling around its officiating.

Screen grab from Fox Sports