Defending FCS champion Montana State’s 19-game winning streak was snapped by Idaho after officials added a second to the clock before Idaho’s final TD.

During the last two minutes of each half, the clock stops until the ball is put into play after a first down. After a very brief delay as the ball was spotted at the 25-yard line, the referee announced to the Kibbie Dome crowd that there would be one second left on the clock.

This is where things get tricky. The clock stops on first downs in the last two minutes of each half. If the clock stops with one or two seconds remaining when a player goes downfield after a first down, the clock restarts when the officials prepare the ball for play. The offense cannot throw the ball with two seconds or less remaining in this scenario, but it can run another actual play if the snap occurs before the clock expires.

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There was no official replay, unlike what happened in Michigan’s win over Western Michigan in Week 1. And that proved crucial for Idaho.

If the time remaining on the clock had been officially reviewed, the game would have been over since Idaho had no more timeouts. According to the NCAA’s replay rules, “time may be reset at the end of either half if the game clock goes to 0:00 and…there should be three seconds or more remaining and the clock will then start at the time it is ready for play.” »

However, because the clock was (apparently) adjusted by on-field officials, Idaho was able to set up the final play. The NCAA rulebook clearly states that while spikes are prohibited when there are less than three seconds remaining in this scenario, “with two seconds or one second on the game clock, there is sufficient time for a single play.”

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Idaho also had a chance to set up for a touchdown. With his defense also struggling, Montana State coach Brent Vigen used one of his three remaining timeouts before the final play.

In hindsight, that call backfired on me. In real time, you can understand why. The chances of Montana State giving up a 25-yard touchdown with a prepared defense were low. But sometimes small chances turn into reality. And Vigen said after the game that he was told officials “looked at” the clock setting.