Rules analyst discusses USC’s massive leaping penalty against Oregon

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One of the biggest plays in USC’s 42-27 loss to Oregon Saturday was a special teams penalty on the Trojans. With Oregon leading 21-14 late in the first half, Ducks kicker Atticus Sappington’s field goal attempt hit the upright, giving USC the ball back with a chance to tie the game.

However, Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II was called for a leaping penalty on the play, giving the Ducks a first down. Oregon went on to score a touchdown on the drive, and instead of having a shot to tie the game, USC went into the break trailing by 14.

But was the call correct? Following the game, former NFL referee and current NBC Sports rules analyst Terry McAulay discussed the play.

“This is not a foul for leaping,” McAulay wrote on social media. “The player must leap into plane directly above the frame of an opponent.

“He leaps into the gap. The fact that part of his body is over part of an opponent does not violate the rule.”

This is certainly a notable development. If McAulay is correct and the penalty should not have been called, then the Big Ten referee’s massively influenced the game. It is not crazy to say that play created a 10-14-point swing in the game, and the Trojans lost by 15.

Would USC still have lost even if the penalty was not called? Most likely. Plain and simple, Oregon was the better football team on Saturday.

But if McAulay is right, then the Trojans and their fans have every right to be furious about the call, as it created a massive momentum shift in the game.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Rules analyst discusses notable USC football penalty against Oregon

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