The Orange Bowl looked like a spring game for the clockkeepers.
During Notre Dame's 27-24 win over Penn State, the umpires constantly had to stop the game and tell the clockkeeper to properly adjust the clock, but the umpires did not allow the chain gang to score a first down. Looks like I forgot to stop the game timer so I could move forward.
“Notre Dame earned a first down. Game clock operator, please rest the game clock to 1 minute 26 seconds. After the first down, you stopped the clock with less than two minutes to go,” the umpire said in a nationally televised speech. He spoke when the score was tied at 24 with just minutes left in the fourth quarter.
At one point, Penn State had the ball with 38 seconds left in a tied game and running back Nicholas Singleton ran for a 15-yard carry for a first down.
During the Nittany Lions' rush-up offense, the referee had to stop the momentum to tell the clockkeeper to turn back the clock because it was not properly stopped after a first down.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allard made an interception on the next play, setting up the Fighting Irish's game-winning field goal.
The staff of “The Pat McAfee Show'' were furious at the exchange between the referee and the clockman, causing an uproar on ESPN's alternate broadcast.
“Hey, this operator,” Darius Butler said. “This must be his last game.”
“[Notre Dame kicker] Mitch Jeter is on the sideline wondering what the clock is doing, too,” McAfee added. “This is unbelievable. I can't believe it.”
During a College Football Playoff semifinal game, fans were left upset after watching a clockman mess up a seemingly simple job.
“The Battle of the Century between the umpires and the clockkeepers at the Orange Bowl,” posted X user @jjolly74.
“We are witnessing a legendary Hall of Shame performance by this watch operator,” said another X user, @statsbywill.
Notre Dame overcame a 10-0 deficit to advance to the title game, and Penn State returned home. As the clock hit zero on their season, one wondered what went wrong in the loss.
