Atlantic Coast Conference Suspends Officials, Replay Officials after Duke-Miami (FL) Finish

Following the crazy finish in the Miami (FL)-Duke game, the Atlantic Coast Conference suspended the on-field officials, as well as the replay official and communicator.

In their official statement, the conference outlined all mistakes the officiating crew made Saturday night in Durham, and boy, they really messed up:

1. The replay official erred in not overturning the ruling on the field that the Miami player had released the ball prior to his knee being down. If called, this would have ended the game.
   
2. The on-field officials erred by failing to penalize Miami for an illegal block in the back at the Miami 16-yard line. If called, the ball would have been placed at the Miami 8-yard line and the game would have been extended for an untimed down.
3. A block in the back foul was called at the Duke 26-yard line. After the officials conferred, which is appropriate, they correctly determined that the block was from the side, which resulted in the flag being picked up. The replay official was not involved in the decision to pick up the flag; however, the referee did not effectively manage communication and properly explain why the flag was picked up.
   
4. In addition, the on-field crew failed to penalize a Miami player for leaving the bench area and entering the field prior to the end of the play. This foul would not have negated the touchdown because it would have been enforced as a dead ball foul.

The Hurricanes were awarded a touchdown after a crazy, eight-lateral kickoff return with no time left against Duke. Officials reviewed the play for almost ten minutes, and decided to pick up the flag on the block in the back penalty and missed a Miami players knee being down before letting go of the ball.

The conference can discipline the officials, but it can't give Duke the win they should've had. The Blue Devils fall out of first place in the Coastal Division and are tied for second with Pittsburgh.