Football can be one of the most unpredictable sports to watch, but one thing you can usually count on is that the second quarter ends right before halftime.
Well, that absolutely was not the case during USC’s road game against California on Saturday.
In a very strange turn of events, the Trojans got one extra second of the game’s second quarter after halftime after USC tight end Lake McRee’s knee was ruled to have hit the ground before the quarter ended.
That meant that USC would get one extra second-quarter play after halftime before the third quarter started, just enough time to kick a field goal.
Officials ruled, after halftime began, that USC was down with 1 second remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The solution: give the ball back to USC with one second remaining in the second quarter, after the conclusion of halftime. pic.twitter.com/TJHfOOmljr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 28, 2023
Officials have determined that USC had the ball with 1 second on the clock before halftime.
USC will have the ball to officially conclude the 2nd quarter when we return from halftime.
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) October 28, 2023
You could see the discussion going on as the Cal marching band played at midfield.
Wow. This game is hilarious. After this halftime discussion with Lincoln Riley/Justin Wilcox, refs rule that USC had one second left on the clock prior to time expiring in the first half. USC will be granted one play at the beginning of the third quarter from where ball was pic.twitter.com/IDebCrliSm
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 28, 2023
In something you just do not see in football, USC kicker Denis Lynch got some time during the break to practice his pending field goal.
Cal can’t be happy that USC kicker Denis Lynch gets to practice the exact kick he’s about to attempt before the second half begins. I’ve never seen anything like this. pic.twitter.com/lk7di2cTOF
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) October 28, 2023
Well, you’d think that would give Lynch the calm to knock in the kick as *checks notes* the last second of the second quarter resumed after halftime.
Cal coach Justin Wilcox decided to ice the attempt, and Lynch wound up missing the kick as the last second-quarter second ticked off the clock.
So, USC got the ball back with one second left in the second quarter, *after halftime concluded*… and proceeded to miss a 33-yard field goal. pic.twitter.com/GtEWEHHv3e
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 28, 2023
This has to have been the most bizarre sequence in college football this week, as the last play of the second quarter coming after halftime is a new one for us, and we’re not sure we’ll see this again anytime soon.
