The USC-Cal game began under bizarre circumstances Saturday, and things somehow got much stranger just before halftime.
To make a long story short, the Trojans and Golden Bears finished the first half after halftime. Let that insane statement sink in for a minute.
How did this happen? Many fans are wondering the same thing.
Here’s what happened. As both teams headed for the locker rooms at halftime, officials determined there was still one second on the clock, and they called both teams out to give USC one more play at the Golden Bears’ 16-yard line.
That infuriated Cal coach Justin Wilcox.
Justin Wilcox is HEATED. Looks like USC will get a play pic.twitter.com/YgRecOXBet
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) October 28, 2023
One problem: Halftime activities were already getting started on the field (cue your own “Band on the field” jokes from that infamous 1982 Cal-Stanford finish).
So officials made the decision to finish the first half after the teams returned from halftime.
Officials ruled, after halftime began, that USC was down with 1 second remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The solution: give the ball back to USC with one second remaining in the second quarter, after the conclusion of halftime. pic.twitter.com/TJHfOOmljr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 28, 2023
That wasn’t the end of the controversy, however, as USC kicker Denis Lynch used halftime to practice field goals from the exact spot he would be kicking to start the second half.
Cal can’t be happy that USC kicker Denis Lynch gets to practice the exact kick he’s about to attempt before the second half begins. I’ve never seen anything like this. pic.twitter.com/lk7di2cTOF
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) October 28, 2023
In the end, Lynch missed the kick.
So, USC got the ball back with one second left in the second quarter, *after halftime concluded*… and proceeded to miss a 33-yard field goal. pic.twitter.com/GtEWEHHv3e
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 28, 2023
The game had already featured one bizarre event, as protesters demanding a suspended UC-Berkley professor be reinstated waged a sit-in at midfield, delaying the game’s start by 15 minutes.
Fans all agreed they’d never seen anything like the halftime snafu happen before, certainly not in a major college football game.
Never seen this before.
— Penn State FB Thoughts (@PSU_FB_Thoughts) October 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/decrappy1/status/1718390939478065499
Pac 12 officials trying to carry USC to their first October W 😭
— Sports Talk Drew 🍀 (@SportsTalkDrew) October 28, 2023
If I were there I would sit down at the 50 yard line in protest.
— Alex Inman (@alexinman) October 28, 2023
Gotta love the Pac 12 refs lol
— Two T’s (@MattOfUM) October 28, 2023
Even if that’s the right call, the PAC-12 officials blew it by not reviewing the replay and making the call when it occurred.
— JeffC (@bksago99) October 28, 2023
