Craig Carton unloads on the NCAA following their admission of massive protocol failures in the Michigan vs. Western Michigan Hail Mary controversy, questioning why the governing body even exists if it lacks the power to reverse the call.
The Virginia Tech Hokies dropped their first game of the season Friday night, losing to Pittsburgh, 35-33, in an absolute thriller.
The Hokies led early. Pittsburgh stormed back. Both teams traded blows in the second half. Ultimately, the Hokies missed what would’ve been a game-winning kick wide to the left in the waning seconds.
John Love No. 17 of the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks an extra point in the first half against the Pitt Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct. 2, 2026. (Getty Images)
And by “wide to the left,” I mean … well, I’m not sure.
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The ball appeared to slip just inside the left upright by the slimmest of margins. I’m talking razor thin. I’m talking Florida-in-the-2000-election thin.
The fans, as you’ll see, thought Va. Tech kicker John Love made the kick, thus sending the Hokies to the program’s first 5-0 start in years. Love himself thought he made it, too.
The refs, though, threw a wet blanket on the whole thing.
Take a look:
Angles mean everything
Thoughts? First impressions?
Initially, I thought it was good. I was watching this game live, and couldn’t figure out why the ESPN announcers weren’t saying anything about it. They completely glossed over the entire thing. There was barely even a replay. It was insane.
I was screaming at my TV. I was sure it went in. I might still be?
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Virginia Tech Hokies kicker John Love reacts after missing a game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct. 2, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Obviously, because we live in the social media era, other angles have emerged of the kick. Some help Virginia Tech’s case, like this was taken from a fan directly behind the goal posts:
To me, that makes it look like a made field goal. The reaction from the students around this guy confirm that line of thinking. It looks good to me. It looked good to them.
Not all angles help Va. Tech, though. Others make the refs look like they got it right, which is hard to do given refs are generally terrible.
Like this one from behind the kicker, and off to the right:
You see? Now THAT one looks like he missed it. No good! Wide left. Game over. The zebras actually got a call right. Shocking!
But wait, there’s more!
Like I said, we live in the social media age. Do you think anyone was watching that final kick without recording it? Of course not. We can’t do anything without our phones nowadays. They own us.
This angle, from the other end of the field, swings me again:
See? Now I think it’s good again! What a rush.
There’s also that pesky NCAA rulebook, which provides even more context to the whole situation.
For those of you who wanted the play reviewed … you can’t.
On reviewable plays:
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Field goal attempts if and only if the ball is ruled (a) below or above the crossbar or (b) inside or outside the uprights when it is lower than the top of the uprights. If the ball is higher than the top of the uprights as it crosses the end line, the play may not be reviewed.
This one was not reviewable, based on that rule. It went above the uprights.
Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin talks to kicker John Love after the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct. 2, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
It’s also important to note that the NFL and NCAA differ just a bit in their language regarding made field attempts. The college rulebook states the ball must cross “over the crossbar between the uprights of the receiving team’s goal.”
The NFL rulebook specifically mentions what we saw last night:
The entire ball must pass through the vertical plane of the goal, which is the area above the crossbar and between the uprights or, if above the uprights, between their outside edges.
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The NCAA rulebook doesn’t say anything about the ball going above the uprights. Just “between” the uprights. Not saying that’s the rule, just saying the rulebook leaves it out. Context is important.
OK, that’s enough yapping out of me. What do you guys think?
Let me have it! Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.