We hope you didn't spend your weekend replaying the missed extra point in overtime that ended Minnesota's 45-44 loss at big-underdog Maryland on Saturday night. If you haven't seen the video, we're not going to show it here.
Take your mind off the Gophers' nightmare finish with this miraculous (almost) touchdown
The jaw-dropping play included eight laterals and 55 yards. It was so good we think you can overlook the fact that it didn't count. (Lateral No. 4 is the best.)
November 2, 2020 at 2:53PM
But we are going to share this, because we suspect there's a pretty good chance it escaped your attention during the weekend's football action.
Trailing 37-21 and out of time outs with less than two minutes to play, Rutgers was faced with a fourth-and-32 situation against Indiana. Extended plays involving extended laterals are getting more and more common for teams trying to make a comeback under desperate circumstances.
Raise your hand if you've ever seen anything like this eight-lateral special.
Unfortunately, it wasn't really a touchdown. Soon after the fabulous check-it-wildly-over-my-head lateral, a review of the play showed a slightly forward lateral that (understandably) escaped the attention of the officials in real time.
The touchdown was nullified, Indiana got the ball and ran out the clock.
While the replay was in progress, one of the officials approached Indiana coach Tom Allen, who recounted their encounter with a laugh after the game: "He said 'Coach, we think one of the laterals was forward. Thank you, Jesus."
One footnote: Our hope is you didn't bet on Rutgers and take the 11 1/2 points. Bringing back the touchdown cost you the chance to tell the greatest "how I won" story of all time.
Center Dawson Garcia played despite a groin injury, and starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and four others were absent for the Gophers. Among the results: a 14-point first half.
