Big Ten admits spotting error on Oregon's late goal-line try in UCLA's win

The Big Ten said Sunday that its officiating crew made a mistake on a key late play in UCLA's win at Autzen Stadium. The error cost Oregon a yard on a goal-line snap that went a long way toward deciding the game.

NY Post Sports reported that after a penalty on an Oregon running play, officials enforced it from the original line of scrimmage. Under the rules, they should have spotted the ball half the distance to the goal from where the run ended. That gave the Ducks their second attempt from the 1½-yard line when they should have needed only half a yard. Running back Jordon Davison ran again and was stopped short of the goal line by UCLA defensive tackle Tyson Ford.

In a statement, the conference said it "has been in contact with its officiating team from Saturday's game regarding the error" and would keep stressing consistent application of the rules. The acknowledgment doesn't change the result. Oregon did get the ball back, and its last play was a completed pass followed by laterals that reached the UCLA 33-yard line. It ended when Bruins defensive back Dante Lovett recovered a fumble.

The spotting error may not have been the only missed call. According to the report, replays appeared to show Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander punching the helmet of UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava after helping bring him down in the second quarter. Iamaleava was announced with a leg injury on that play. He missed one snap and came back briefly, then left for good. Backup Ty Dieffenbach played the second half, and coach Bob Chesney had no update on Iamaleava after the game.

The win was UCLA's first at Autzen Stadium since 2004. It moved the Bruins to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten, and they rose to No. 12 in Sunday's Associated Press poll.

Iamaleava's health is the main question for UCLA heading into Week 7. The Bruins host 4-1 Wisconsin on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC. UCLA is favored at -147 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and the best sportsbook price on the Bruins is -142 at FanDuel. The spread is UCLA -3.5 and the total is 46.5. That's a narrow margin for an unbeaten top-15 team at home, and it likely reflects the uncertainty at quarterback. Full prices are on the Wisconsin at UCLA odds page.

Oregon falls to 3-2 and has little room left in the conference race. The Ducks host 5-1 Nebraska later Saturday, at 11 p.m. EDT on Fox. Oregon is favored at -239 on Novig, with theScore Bet listing the Ducks at -250. The spread is Oregon -6.5 and the total is 51.5. More is on the Nebraska at Oregon odds page.

The Big Ten's admission won't change Oregon's record. It does put the conference's officiating under more scrutiny at the midpoint of the season, with a one-score margin and a yard of field position at the center of it.