TEMPE, Ariz. — After a dramatic finish, BYU coach Kalani Sitake remained composed on Saturday, even though his team had to wait approximately 15 minutes to execute a last-ditch Hail Mary attempt due to a premature celebration by Arizona State’s student section. The Cougars fell to the No. 21 Sun Devils with a score of 28-23 in a game that grew chaotic in its closing moments.
With just over a minute remaining, Arizona State seemed to have locked in their win after Javan Robinson intercepted a pass, but their offense faltered during the following possession. On a crucial fourth down with only seven seconds left, Sam Leavitt from Arizona State threw the ball out of bounds, leading many fans to believe the game was over and prompting them to rush the field in celebration. However, officials determined that only 1 second remained on the clock, giving BYU possession at their 49-yard line for one final play.
The rush of fans onto the field created an unexpected situation, as it was one of the most significant home matches for Arizona State (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) in many years, drawing a sellout crowd of 55,400. With the stadium engulfed in excitement, it became difficult for the fans to clear the field in time for the Hail Mary attempt, leaving the remaining spectators around the perimeter of the field for the decisive play.
Sitake sought an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Arizona State’s celebration; however, he was informed by the officials that a ruling from the Big 12 Conference prevented that action. This additional yardage could have proved beneficial, as BYU’s Jake Retzlaff’s final throw fell short and went incomplete. “I don’t know — that was a conference decision,” Sitake said, acknowledging the complexities involved.
While he experienced disappointment from the emotional loss, which likely dashed BYU’s aspirations for the College Football Playoff, Sitake expressed appreciation for the officiating crew’s effective communication throughout the game. “I was trying to cling onto as much hope as I could,” he reflected. “It’s OK. None of our guys were hurt. There was no big issue there. They eventually cleared it, and we were able to get that one play. I understand the fans’ excitement and energy. They weren’t too rude to us; just excited about their win.”
Premature celebrations among fans are not uncommon within college football. Just two weeks prior, fans from Mississippi faced a similar situation when they needed to be removed from the field during their upset victory over Georgia.