USC football: Pac-12 explains rationale for changing score of USC victory

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The final score of USC’s 23-14 victory over Utah on Saturday night was not determined until the Pacific 12 Conference office weighed in.

Specifically, Pac-12 officiating consultant Mike Pereira.

Players from USC and Utah, as well as fans at the Coliseum and millions watching on TV, listening on radio and following the game on the Internet, thought the game ended with USC winning, 17-14.

But two hours later, the Pac-12 ruled that officials erred by not allowing Torin Harris’ touchdown return after Matt Kalil blocked a field-goal attempt on the game’s final play.

Here’s Pereira’s statement:

‘The new Unsportsmanlike Conduct rule is Rule 9, Section 2, Article 1. It states that Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls by players are administered as either live ball or dead ball fouls depending on when they occur. The rule does not apply to substitutes. All Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls by substitutes are enforced as dead ball fouls. Since the game was over, the penalty could not be enforced and the referee stated it was declined by rule. The officials did rule it a touchdown making the final score 23-14.”

--Gary Klein