The Big Sky Conference on Monday suspended multiple officials after a controversial catch was awarded to Sacramento State late in Saturday night’s game against Idaho, setting the stage for their 23-20 win.
“In conjunction with its coordinator of officials, the Big Sky Conference has reviewed the play with twelve seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the football game Saturday between Sacramento State and Idaho,” the conference said. “The officials on the field called a pass attempt by Sacramento State successful, and replay did not overturn this call.
“It is evident that incorrect judgment was applied to this play. The Big Sky acknowledges and regrets this error in officiating, and as a result has suspended multiple officials who worked this contest. The conference will have no further public comment on this matter.”
Typically we’d show you the play first and the statement afterward, but this time it’s appropriate to reverse the order because, while Sac State receiver Jordan Williams was clearly out of bounds on the 18-yard reception that gave the Hornets the ball at the 2-yard line with 11 seconds to play in a 20-16 game, it doesn’t appear clear and obvious on replay.
Here’s the image of the catch.
In a four point game with 11 seconds left: not only was this ruled a catch on the field, but reviewed and still called a catch. The Vandals just got absolutely robbed in Sacramento pic.twitter.com/oihTpN2x3D
— BrockCrav (@craven_66) November 16, 2025
But here’s how the sequence played out in real time.
It’s clearly an error in judgment by the side judge but — as one of the harshest critics of replay in the college football media — based on the views available to us, I can’t find fault in the replay crew there. Signage blocks the view of the sideline from the TV copy, and the only replays we see are from the other sideline, or an obstructed shot down the same sideline where the catch was made. If “clear and obvious” is the standard, there’s nothing clear or obvious here, at least nothing available to the officials in real time.
That’s cold comfort to Idaho, though.
“Obviously, pretty frustrated with the result. I felt like at the end of the game there, we got one taken from us,” Idaho head coach Thomas Ford, Jr., said after the game. “I don’t think that’s the right call,” Ford said. “It got reviewed and they said there wasn’t enough evidence (to overturn it). They definitely missed one on that call, and I believe they will see this, and think the exact same.”
The loss dropped Idaho to 4-7 on the season and 2-5 in Big Sky play. Sacramento State moved to 7-4 with the win.