NCAA issues major rule change interpretation following Dan Lanning's 12-man penalty during Oregon-Ohio State showdown

The Ohio State Buckeyes' matchup versus the Oregon Ducks proved to be one of the most entertaining games from the Week 7 college football slate. The game had a hectic ending, with time running out for the Buckeyes on their final drive, resulting in a 32-31 win for the Ducks at home.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning caused a rule change after sending 12 players on the field during Ohio State's final drive, causing the clock to run due to a loophole in the NCAA's rulebook.

The NCAA announced the changing of the interpretation of the rule on Wednesday afternoon.

With the new rule, if a defense commits a penalty for having 12 or more players on the field and plays a down with the extra players, officials will give the offended team the choice to reset the game clock. The rule would have saved the Buckeyes four crucial seconds on their final drive as they looked to get the ball into field goal range.

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What caused the Ohio State-Oregon NCAA rule change?

The new rule interpretation followed Oregon's win over Ohio State. Oregon coach Dan Lanning admitted the penalty was committed on purpose to chew some of Ohio State's precious final seconds.

The Buckeyes possessed the ball on the final drive when freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith was called for an offensive pass interference call on second-down with 22 seconds left. Due to the penalty, the clock kept winding, giving the Buckeyes just 10 seconds on Oregon's 43-yard line.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw an incompletion on third-and-25, with the 12 players on the field penalty on the play. Despite the penalty, the Buckeyes were not rewared with the four seconds used on the incompletion, giving Ohio State six seconds remaining, while Oregon took just a five-yard penalty.

Will Howard scrambled up the middle as time expired but failed to slide in time for Ohio State's final timeout, resulting in the clock to wind down and give the Ducks a 32-31 win. The NCAA immediately addressed the rule, giving the offense the opportunity to receive any time used on the pentalized play.