Overview
- The Big Ten said Monday that officials incorrectly applied a roughing-the-snapper penalty on a missed PAT in Nebraska’s Week 5 win over Maryland and that the play should have produced a retry with the penalty enforced half the distance to the goal.
- Instead of granting a retry, the crew allowed the missed extra point to stand and improperly enforced the penalty yardage on the ensuing kickoff, which cost Nebraska one point but did not change the 48-23 final score.
- The conference said it has contacted the officiating team and will emphasize consistent rule application, and a Big Ten spokesman confirmed no discipline will be imposed on the Maryland–Nebraska crew.
- Nebraska coach Matt Rhule publicly criticized the officiating and said a sideline miscommunication led him to accept the kickoff enforcement after an official told him the kick was good, and the conference will not fine him.
- The incident adds to scrutiny of the same officials who worked the controversial Michigan–Western Michigan finish and comes after a game with 28 combined penalties for nearly 247 yards, raising reputational concerns for Big Ten officiating ahead of Nebraska’s next matchup.