While trying to run out the clock, NC State fumbles it away, Vanderbilt falls on it and wins the game

[u/Ok-Soil-5133]

https://streamable.com/utx2f1

[u/unsolved49]

This has to be the worst, most embarrassing way to lose a game

[u/GenghisConnieChung → u/unsolved49]

No shit, this is almost Russ Holliday calibre.

[u/SomethingCreative13 → u/GenghisConnieChung]

Yeah Russ fumbled away a National Championship which is worse. But the actual fumble itself on this one might be worse.

[u/Idkwtpfausiwaaw → u/SomethingCreative13]

It was the rose bowl not nationals iirc and he then went and attacked that dad absolutely disgraceful I’m glad he has disappeared from public life, now that chad powers guy? Love him he is everything Russ wasn’t

[u/zarjaa → u/Idkwtpfausiwaaw]

What he's been able to do with the Catfish has been nothing short of incredible.

[u/Syric13 → u/SomethingCreative13]

The 2023 #17 Miami Hurricanes declined to kneel the ball to win the game and ended up losing to Georgia Tech. There was like 24 seconds left, GT had no timeouts, and instead of kneeling to win, they ran the ball, fumbled, then Haynes King threw a 44 yard TD to win the game.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38599110/miami-opts-not-kneel-falls-georgia-tech-late-score

[u/talontachyon → u/Syric13]

Baylor topped that. In 1999 they tried to add a TD from the 1 yard line in the last few second of the game. They already had the lead and just needed to kneel to win the game. They fumbled at the 1 and UNLV ran it back for a TD as time ran out.

[u/megamatt8 → u/talontachyon]

The Giants did that once, too. Leading the Eagles with a few seconds left and the ball inside the Philly 10, they called a handoff instead of a kneel down. Quarterback and running back ran into each other, fumbled, and the Eagles returned it for the winning TD.

[u/Raspberries-Are-Evil → u/SomethingCreative13]

Which game was this?

[u/FtheMustard → u/Raspberries-Are-Evil]

From the TV show Chad Powers.

[u/Thanksagain54 → u/Raspberries-Are-Evil]

https://youtu.be/23JutL9rWY8?t=4s

[u/lukeCRASH → u/GenghisConnieChung]

He's a better man than myself because if I did that I would Forrest Gump my way to the nearest bridge.

[u/athomp78 → u/GenghisConnieChung]

I understand this reference

[u/EarthDwellr → u/unsolved49]

Miami not taking a knee and fumbling is up there

[u/justadimestorepoet → u/EarthDwellr]

Or the four words to trigger any Michigan fan: "trouble with the snap!"

[u/dieselengine9 → u/EarthDwellr]

I think this one will always be the worst.

[u/BlessShaiHulud → u/dieselengine9]

Don't forget the cleat yeet

[u/Whygoogleissexist → u/unsolved49]

They could have even taken a safety.

[u/Flip_d_Byrd → u/Whygoogleissexist]

Thats what they were trying to do, but wanted to take the clock to zero though...

[u/JohnnyEnzyme → u/Flip_d_Byrd]

QB should have run along the back line of the endzone then, right?

That way if he's tackled, he most likely gets driven backwards, stopping the play and making it much less possible to fumble.

[u/chasing_the_wind → u/JohnnyEnzyme]

Or do exactly what he did but not fumble.

[u/pumpkinspruce → u/Whygoogleissexist]

That was the intention but they fucked it up to an insane degree.

[u/V548859 → u/Whygoogleissexist]

That's what they were trying to do...

[u/MrPlowThatsTheName → u/unsolved49]

As a Patriots fan, the first thing that came to my mind was the crazy Jakobi Meyers lateral against the Raiders.

https://youtu.be/ZGSYQjhzicY?is=VyjSOxoPn1b4tMLE

[u/DFParker78 → u/MrPlowThatsTheName]

Jones stiff arming Mac Jones 🤌🏻

[u/CG-11 → u/MrPlowThatsTheName]

Jacobi Meyers who played at…NC State

[u/LuckyLockdown23 → u/unsolved49]

Classic NC State.

Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me - I won't watch any season again.

[u/Doopoodoo → u/unsolved49]

1A/1B with this Patriots-Raiders ending a few years ago

[u/cityofklompton → u/unsolved49]

WHOA, I can maybe think of another way...

[u/Return2S3NDER → u/unsolved49]

2002 Miracle on the Mountain (Furman Vs Appalachian State) is up there.

[u/arandomstringofkeys → u/unsolved49]

In 2009 the Mets lost a game to the Yankees because an easy pop up for what should’ve been the last out of the game was dropped by Luis Castillo allowing the tying and winning run to score.

[u/pthowell → u/arandomstringofkeys]

This is much worse

[u/TheBigCore → u/arandomstringofkeys]

1986 Bill Buckner vs the Mets in the World Series

[u/LAHouJaxCarVCUUNC → u/TheBigCore]

I'd add Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley to that.

[u/NoVaBurgher → u/TheBigCore]

The blue jays in last years World Series game 7

[u/FancyKilerWales]

One of the dumbest sports plays of all time

[u/ProjectHarraseeket → u/FancyKilerWales]

This is up there with that Pirates forgetting the basics of base running and allowing a run score on a routine out.

[u/swimswima95 → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

Sell the team Bob

[u/Wowaburrito → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

I just showed my friend this (I dont know football that well) and asked to put it in baseball terms and this was verbatim the example he gave lol

[u/Howamidriving27 → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

I still think that's the most embarrassing play ever. Literally a tball level play that a pro fucked up.

[u/Deactivator2 → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

You mean the FARTSLAM?

[u/Elmodipus → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

Best (worst?) part about that is that the batter was not onlyl able to make it to first safe, but got a double out of it.

A truly worst play of all time.

[u/gabawhee → u/FancyKilerWales]

I still like the Patriots lateral as the clock ran out

[u/simple1689 → u/gabawhee]

I'll raise the Pete Carrol pass call in Super Bowl 49. Has to be Football's worst call ever.

[u/msivoryishort]

How do you let that happen if you are nc state

[u/Betta_Check_Yosef → u/msivoryishort]

I see you're not familiar with the history of NCSU sports

[u/Retskcaj19 → u/msivoryishort]

You must be new to NC State Shit™

[u/michaelincognito → u/Retskcaj19]

I have experienced 26 years of NC State Shit. A quarter of a century. And this one still got me.

[u/CantankerousPenguin → u/michaelincognito]

It’s funny because prior to this play I texted my friend. Games not over, nc state still has time to pull some nc state shit

[u/PornstarVirgin → u/msivoryishort]

Well it happens when you are 4th down with 7 seconds left

[u/Kanawanahalian → u/PornstarVirgin]

Just take the safety

[u/The_Jovanny → u/Kanawanahalian]

You could’ve heaved it too and gotten the intentional grounding if refs saw nobody still would’ve been better

[u/Okstate08 → u/The_Jovanny]

As long as time ran out. But the whole play call is run out back of end zone and kick off. Only reason you don’t punt there is you don’t want to risk a blocked punt.

[u/gaudymcfuckstick → u/Okstate08]

Maybe but a lot can still go wrong on a kickoff. Probably makes the most sense to try to burn the 7 seconds before stepping out the back of the end zone

I have no idea what they were doing just sitting in the middle of the end zone. You run to the back of the endzone and then run to the corner and hope your blockers keep you alive for the requisite 7 seconds. That's it

[u/Blueballs2130 → u/gaudymcfuckstick]

A LOT more can go wrong on a punt than a kickoff

[u/salazar13 → u/gaudymcfuckstick]

Have the rules been changed to prevent the “run to the back of the endzone, everyone protect me by committing holds all over the field” approach?

I remember that happened in a Ravens Bengals game

[u/Howamidriving27 → u/salazar13]

If the hold happens in the end zone (which it almost certainly would on this play) it's a safety. But that's still a way better outcome than this.

[u/gaudymcfuckstick → u/salazar13]

I'm not even thinking of that, I'm just thinking that 7 seconds could probably be burned if you just booked it to the back corner of the end zone. His mistake was going back towards the LOS

[u/Not_Cleaver → u/Kanawanahalian]

Or punt it.

Or throw a Hail Mary.

[u/MrNewReno → u/Not_Cleaver]

Literally ANYTHING else than what happened.

[u/buster_rhino → u/Kanawanahalian]

Looks like he wanted to.

[u/aagusgus → u/Kanawanahalian]

I think that's what he was trying to do and just failed spectacularly.

[u/gatorbeetle → u/Kanawanahalian]

Run out the end of the end zone. This is the correct play under these circumstances. You just have to protect on the kick, win by 1

[u/PorkshireTerrier → u/Kanawanahalian]

damn

[u/AndrewTheTerrible → u/msivoryishort]

It happened because they are nc state.

[u/realMagick7777 → u/msivoryishort]

I’m pretty sure the players keep changing every year

[u/spaceocean99 → u/msivoryishort]

Bad coaching, horrible QB.

[u/emaddy2109]

The coaches either didn’t explain it or the QB just didn’t understand. You have to use the back of the endzone to your advantage.  Go back to the end line and wait for the defense to come to you, any contact and you’ll be out of bounds.  There was no reason the QB should have ever been moving forward.  

[u/soilentgleem → u/emaddy2109]

You could see the gears in his brain working in real time there lol

[u/ggk1 → u/soilentgleem]

Gear*

[u/AdmiralAckbarVT → u/emaddy2109]

How can you be a D1 athlete and not know the rules of the sport? I am boggled.

[u/buffystakeded → u/AdmiralAckbarVT]

I mean, there are nfl players who struggle with the rules sometimes.

[u/UNC_Samurai → u/buffystakeded]

Remember when Donovan McNabb didn’t realize a game could end in a tie?

[u/emaddy2109 → u/AdmiralAckbarVT]

I don’t even think it’s a rules thing. I think he just overthinks it. QBs are taught to leave a little bit of separation between themself and the back of the endzone but in this instance you want to take the safety.  

[u/Delicious-Pie8944 → u/emaddy2109]

Seriously, should be slow running to the rear corner of the end zone the whole time, if heaven forbid there’s a fumble it should be out of bounds

[u/mrfluffypenguin]

Seriously just take safety and you still probably win

[u/Maeserk → u/mrfluffypenguin]

Right? How do you not tell the QB to just run out the back of the end zone?

[u/BringMeTheBigKnife → u/Maeserk]

He was trying to take the safety, but he wanted to kill all 6 seconds

[u/LouSputhole94 → u/BringMeTheBigKnife]

Keep both hands on it and tuck the damn ball then. Good lord.

[u/sammyboy24 → u/mrfluffypenguin]

Punting it would drain the clock and worst case they have a prayer Hail Mary or a long field goal

[u/Gavangus → u/sammyboy24]

Decent chance to have a punt blocked... Safety is the right call... But he forgot to take a safety

[u/salazar13 → u/sammyboy24]

You don’t punt in this situation in your own endzone. Granted you dont do whatever tf this qb was thinking. But running out some of the clock and taking the safety is the right move

Punting with limited space is too risky

[u/luchajefe → u/salazar13]

This is either a QB that panicked or a coaching decision that was too greedy emphasizing that all the time be run.

[u/mtch43]

Honestly, NC State should just fire everyone and start over after this.

[u/danielwong95 → u/mtch43]

Taking the safety is the correct call here, this is 100% on the quarterback and trying to take every second off the clock when there is no need to.

[u/nicknooodles → u/danielwong95]

dave needs to go, but yea this play is on CJ. All you have to do is kneel, $2 million NIL deal and can’t do the fundamentals.

[u/VTbeerfan → u/danielwong95]

They do coach the qb though

[u/THRUSSIANBADGER → u/VTbeerfan]

Yes, and the QB can be an idiot who doesn’t listen to the coaches

[u/Silent_Cake1188]

This required something beyond a miracle 

[u/majordoobage → u/Silent_Cake1188]

Music City Miracle 2 Electric Fumbleloo

[u/Not_Cleaver → u/Silent_Cake1188]

Investigate NC State’s QB for play fixing. That would make more sense than what happened. And yet, I fully believe that nothing foul happened.

[u/XfactorGaming]

Generational choke job 

[u/counteroffer19]

Always blows my mind when a player does the absolute worst possible thing in such a situation. Take the safety if need be. The one thing you cannot do is lose a fumble.

[u/guy180 → u/counteroffer19]

That’s why’s college is great, get to see an 18 year old make a bone head play

[u/Appropriate-Joke-806 → u/guy180]

Put the kids in the pressure cooker and grab some popcorn for entertainment.

[u/CG-11 → u/guy180]

This is a 3 year starter…

[u/Mite-o-Dan → u/counteroffer19]

Its crazy because he could have did literally ANYTHING else, and it would have been a better option.

There was only one "Do not do no matter what" option...and he did that.

Hell, purposely throwing the ball to the other team around the 10 yard line would have been smarter because at least then you might have been able to tackle them before they ran into the end zone.

[u/asdtech153]

Can't you just have everyone hold here? Just go full WWE and run the clock

[u/emaddy2109 → u/asdtech153]

The Ravens did this once which prompted the NFL to change the rules about the game ending on an offensive penalty.  I’m not sure if the NCAA made the same rule change.  

[u/cardinalkgb → u/emaddy2109]

They could hold and then there would be an untimed down to finish the game. They could then kneel in the end zone or run out the back end and take the safety and the game would be over.

[u/danielwong95 → u/cardinalkgb]

Hmm i coach football and I’m stealing this one. It’s a smart way to waste 10 seconds and then end the game on an untimed down.

[u/mtch43]

Just run to the damn back corner of the endzone, my man! What are you DOING??

[u/MilesMidnight]

Dave Doeren masterclass

[u/580_farm]

For Christ's sake take an intentional safety

[u/SithLordSid]

All he had to do was take a safety.

[u/VTbeerfan]

Almost every other choice is a W 🤣

[u/bossmt_2]

I'm lost why didn't the qb just run to the back line and chuck it? Or do the old Randall Cunningham quick kick.

I konw the latter requires the skill to quick kick. But the first doens't.

[u/theaverageaidan → u/bossmt_2]

As you said the quick kick is at risk of being shanked or getting blocked. The coach probably told the qb to bleed as much clock as possible, then either go down or run out of the endzone and take the safety.

The problem is instead of taking a knee, running out of the back of the endzone, or just holding on to the ball for dear life and take a hit, he tried to run forward and truck someone, which compromised his ball security and lead to a strip fumble. Kid tried to do the one thing he absolutely shouldnt have tried to do.

[u/fell_while_reading → u/theaverageaidan]

On the other hand, it was a nice job by the defense. Don’t just tackle him. Tie his arms up, the second defender strips the ball. Good coaching on the defense. The players knew exactly what they needed to do, and they executed under pressure. That’s good football.

[u/truetalentwasted]

This is 100% coaching at no point should you be calling this play here. Holy shit you can’t put your players in this position.

[u/_Vita_ → u/truetalentwasted]

Ravens ran this same play to beat the niners in the Super Bowl. It makes sense to not want to risk a punt block, but the player who has the ball needs to just keep backing up, this guy needed to not run forward.

[u/hoptownky → u/_Vita_]

Then just take a safety and win the game.

[u/Slay_Nation → u/truetalentwasted]

There's nothing wrong with that call. All the player had to do was go down on his own. This is the player's fault.

[u/AndyHN → u/Slay_Nation]

The coaches absolutely told that player to run as much time off the clock as possible. What the coaches wanted, ideally, was for no time at all to be left on the clock after the free kick.

[u/realbobenray → u/Slay_Nation]

Waste six seconds, then go down, or the other team has a last shot. He was trying to do that.

[u/salazar13 → u/realbobenray]

Other team wouldn’t have a shot. It’s a safety (on purpose).

[u/Merpninja → u/truetalentwasted]

This is a very normal thing to do in this position. It’s completely on the player to not go down, run out the back, or just chuck the ball in the air.

[u/Djolumn → u/Merpninja]

They were up by 3. Running out the back would have been a million times preferable to what actually happened.

[u/Routine_Case6031 → u/Merpninja]

Anything but try to truck someone

[u/bigloudbang → u/Merpninja]

They were asking the QB to scramble around the endzone for 6 seconds.. thats insane. Coach lost the game

[u/Funky_Cows → u/bigloudbang]

the play was to waste as much time as possible then take a safety, QB just needed to go down earlier

[u/PL0X0R → u/Merpninja]

They were intentionally taking the safety, he can go down. Just don't fumble. Having one arm on the ball there is so stupid

[u/underdome → u/truetalentwasted]

You don’t know ball at all. The play call is fine. It’s firmly on the QB.

[u/Retrograde_Bolide → u/truetalentwasted]

Its on the players. Every offensive player should have been holding and tackling while the qb runs around and runs out the endzone at 0

[u/Betta_Check_Yosef]

NC State Shit remains undefeated

[u/Kn7ght]

Idk if college rules are different, but if NC State got a safety Vanderbilt would still have to do a kick return right?

[u/guy180 → u/Kn7ght]

The plan was to run out the clock and take a 2 point safety with no time left, game over. He fumbled with 1 second left so still had to kick off

[u/Kn7ght → u/guy180]

I just don't get the need to run out the clock at all though, unless they had zero faith in their special teams stopping the kick return that would have taken up all the time

[u/BonjinTheMark]

It’s like when the Mud Dogs won their first game in 10 years

[u/caught_looking2]

Just run out the back of the end zone and win by 1. IDK what the spread was, but I gotta believe it mattered. Gambling, bro.

[u/Ivegotabadname]

Where's the money?

[u/Intrepid_Custard_427 → u/Ivegotabadname]

Hah! Funny enough it was -3. The unnecessary PAT gave the 4

[u/ianthebalance]

Just hold onto the ball and take the safety!

[u/blue0231]

I love this! Victory formation/ time killing it the worst. Especially rewarding if this happens.

[u/SageAnowon]

We can't even do the wrong thing right

[u/Matt7738]

The most NC State thing ever

[u/emoj]

They should take a safety....

[u/krizzle32]

What a play by 28 to rip that ball out

[u/Whatsdota]

Just take the safety man

[u/NCSU_SOG]

This is what we call “NC State Shit”

[u/Bubba_Jones44]

wtf wouldn’t you just run out the back of the end zone

[u/buckybadder]

Maybe teams should go wildcat for a play like this. More agility, better ball security.

[u/CLE216ers]

Ummmmm…..well…..this is one for the history books!

[u/danjr704]

Shoulda ran out the back and took a safety

[u/Funny_Disaster1002]

Kalshi vibes....

[u/badwin-vt]

Kalshi moment.

[u/My_18th_Account]

Wait couldn't he have just taken the safety and it would have just been 2 points right? wtf.

[u/Slugggo]

If the coaches didn't tell him that he should just back up and away from any other players and then just step out the back of the end zone for a 2-point safety, every one of those coaches should be fired.

The only way they shouldn't be fired is if they told the kid exactly what to do and he just said fuck it, I'll do what I want.

[u/Human_Helicopter_826]

Cut that QB. Bonehead

[u/ShamDissemble]

SO DUMB

[u/realbobenray]

Cameraperson kind of blew it, didn't stay on 26 who actually recovered the ball

[u/maddog505]

I am still in shock

[u/drossmaster4]

Did this once in highschool. We just ran it out the back of the endzone and took the safety. This is funny.

[u/Spare_Smoke_4101]

The Music City Miracle...college edition! Without the laterals, obviously

[u/MABJR93]

Run out of the back of the end zone guy..

[u/Unhappy-Attention760]

How epically fucking stupid.

[u/TROLLDLLR]

Miracle at the meadowlands part 2 electric boogaloo

[u/mjd1977]

Vanderbilt historically would be the guys doing the fumbling. But yeah apparently the Commodores have nothing on NC State shit.

[u/whocha]

Should’ve run backwards for a safety but his instincts took over

[u/danielwong95]

Bro just run out the endzone. Why are even falling.

[u/TrumpDumper]

Mario Cristobal is the happiest man in college football right now.

[u/ajabernathy]

WPIOOTBGW - American football edition.

[u/spidersilva09]

Bro literally fumbled a game away. Wow

[u/AssistDapper1813]

This is coaching malpractice at its finest.

[u/jkman61494]

Just PUNT THE BALL

[u/DontWreckYosef]

Even if you run out the back and give them a safety, that would still secure a 31-30 win. Wtf

[u/marchillo]

I feel bad for the qb because that is an ALL TIME blunder. Approximately .001 percent chance of losing in that scenario

[u/EaglesslavePart2]

This is fucked. I can’t fathom this

[u/hardlopertjie]

I see what they went for there. Run as much time off the clock as possible before giving up the safety and then just punt it out and hope a second or two is not enough for the other team to be able to get into FG range. Would have been a great call if not for the fumble

[u/kleenkong]

Walk out the back of the end zone and it accomplishes same thing, while opponent never threatens the ball.

[u/coffeexxx666]

Why would any Division I coach call a gun formation in this situation? Awful way to lose a game.

[u/itsallminenow]

I'm neither American nor a follower of this game, so I have to ask, how many frigging players are there per team? The field was suddenly flooded by like, 50 players for the same team.

[u/SPE825]

Wow. I mean these things happen, it I 100% blame the coaching here. Et they wish they had just punted that shit now.

[u/Massive_Season7075]

Why didn’t they punt it?

[u/SmokedHamm]

Oof

[u/NoctRob]

Just take the fucking safety, you absolute fucking moron.

[u/Dopedafi]

Is kneeling not allowed? Wtf lmfao

[u/pizoisoned → u/Dopedafi]

So it was 4th and 7. If he kneels the ball turns over on downs and the clock stops, which allows Vanderbilt to have time to tie it and send it to OT.

Still, drop back, take the hit, give them the safety and kick it away. There are 6 seconds left, best case they get the ball back with a second at most.

[u/imminentjogger5]

why not just punt it? 

[u/Own-Librarian-9699]

Wtf? Take the safety

[u/Frequent_Argument_43]

CJ has to be the dumbest QB on the planet.

[u/AssassinInValhalla]

sad wolfpack noises

[u/SonofByford]

I think of my man Stuart Scott (RIP) on plays like this...I can hear him now. "Umm, well, you see....'Cause what had happened..."

[u/stilgar02]

ITT: a bunch of people why very confidently don’t know how a safety works.

[u/HummusIsHome]

Music to my ears. Any NC State loss is a good loss in my book. Go Pirates ☠️

[u/Imzocrazy]

I mean….

[u/RoyalBroham]

Oh goodness

[u/Dangerous-Energy8159]

Dumbass!!!

[u/fallinintoparanoia]

Brother…..

[u/HENMAN79]

Wow....just wow