Year in and year out without fail, college football provides us with some out-of-the-box play calls, especially on fourth down.
Saturday’s UTEP-Jacksonville State game was no different.
Facing a 4th-and-3 near midfield, the Miners lined up in what could best be described as a kneel-down formation. After trying to draw Jacksonville State offsides, UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison snapped the ball and was unable to do anything, taking a sack and forcing the change of possession.
What on earth is going on here?#UTEP #JacksonvilleState pic.twitter.com/HuMefJnqPR
— CFB Country (@_CFBCountry) August 26, 2023
If you’re going to go for it on fourth down, it always makes more sense to just run a standard play instead of trying something different when there’s no room for error.
Is this a case of trying to get way too clever and it backfiring? Absolutely. Did it lead to a bunch of hilarious posts on social media? Absolutely.
Brett Kollman of The Film Room tweeted, “Don’t give the Colts any ideas” referring to the time the Indianapolis Colts lined up in a hilarious formation on 4th-and-3 against the Patriots and were unable to convert the first down, getting sacked with ease.
Don’t give the Colts any ideas https://t.co/uPPrJIJexb
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) August 26, 2023
Vincent Verhei of Football Outsiders broke down what went wrong with the play, concluding someone missed a block.
87 was supposed to take the outside rusher and 54 is letting him know it. https://t.co/RGOwIAHm9o pic.twitter.com/gmDyM6wcAI
— Vincent Verhei (@VincentVerhei) August 26, 2023
Other fans simply shared how happy they were to have college football back to give us moments like this.
don't ever let them take our Week 0 https://t.co/ETSIWjYriX
— Derek Peterson (@dr_petey) August 26, 2023
Pure. College. Football. https://t.co/xDSnjwMlup
— Owain Jones (@Owain_Jones_) August 26, 2023
Week 0 football, baby! https://t.co/geZA2FGvpy
— 🆎♘ (@socaAB_) August 26, 2023
College football is back! https://t.co/TIPrH5betB
— Nemy (@Nemy10X) August 26, 2023
