Central Michigan miracle play should not have counted

Central Michigan’s incredible miracle play to beat Oklahoma State on Saturday that has the college football world buzzing actually should not have counted.

Oklahoma State was up 27-24 on Central Michigan with four seconds left and faced a 4th-and-13 situation. The Cowboys’ Mason Rudolph stood in the pocket and fired a ball out of bounds down the field as time expired.

Rudolph was called for intentional grounding — which was expected — but what happened after that was a surprise.

The game should have ended on the penalty per NCAA rules, but officials actually said the game couldn’t end on a penalty committed by the offensive team and gave Central Michigan the ball. The Chippewas then scored on this insane Hail Mary lateral play and won 30-27. The problem is they never should have had the ball.

The NCAA rule book says a period should not be extended if the penalty was by the team in possession and if it costs the team a down. Both were the case with Oklahoma State.

From the NCAA rule book regarding untimed downs: pic.twitter.com/piB4p2oAmR

— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) September 10, 2016

Rule 3-2-3. "The period is not extended if the foul is by the team and possession and the penalty includes loss of down." Oops.

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 10, 2016

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy shares what the officials told him about the play:

end the game."

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) September 10, 2016

After the game, MAC officials confirmed the game should not have been extended.

Now that the officials have admitted their mistake, there will be a big question about whether or not the outcome will be overturned.