Watch: Oregon fails in disastrous fake punt attempt
The Oregon Ducks ran one of the most inexplicable and ill-fated fake punts in recent memory in Monday’s RedBox Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans.
With a 7-6 lead late in the fourth quarter and the ball at the Michigan State 28, the Ducks initially lined up for a 46-yard field goal before shifting the formation and leaving punter Blake Maimone back to receive the snap. Instead of punting, Maimone, a former high school quarterback, tried to throw it, which ended very poorly for him.
Remember that horrific fake punt the Colts tried years ago against the Pats?
Oregon clearly does not. pic.twitter.com/hFyKM2OP5O
— Lee Benson (@LeeBensonNews9) December 31, 2018
It was slightly reminiscent of the fake punt the Indianapolis Colts tried to run three years ago for which they were widely eviscerated. If the Ducks wanted to go for it, they should have put the ball in quarterback Justin Herbert’s hands. Instead, the whole thing just turned into a mess.