Late in the game with 10 seconds left, Ohio State was at third-and-25 at Oregon’s 43-yard line and eyeing field goal range. After Oregon called a timeout, it sent 12 defenders on the field. Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard thew an incomplete pass, four seconds came off the clock and the Ducks were penalized for an illegal substitution.

The NCAA issued a rules interpretation that will allow offenses to reset clock if 12 or more defenders participate in a play late in a half.

Did Oregon head coach Dan Lanning purposely call for 12 defenders to take the field on Ohio State’s penultimate offensive snap Saturday — knowing that it would either be missed by the refs (thus aiding the Duck defense) or even if flagged would result in just a 5-yard penalty but cost the Buckeyes precious time on the clock because of an NCAA rulebook loophole?