The Big 12 has acknowledged yet another officiating blunder involving BYU, this time in the Cougars' 27-20 win over Arizona State on Saturday. The latest incident was the third consecutive week that a game involving BYU has featured a major officiating mistake.

The controversy occurred at the 11:27 mark of the first quarter when the Cougars faced second-and-goal from the Arizona State 1-yard line. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier attempted to run the ball into the end zone but fumbled before reaching the goal line. Running back Sione Moa recovered the loose ball near the 2-yard line and carried it into the end zone.

Officials initially ruled Bachmeier down, but two separate replay reviews ultimately resulted in the touchdown being awarded to Moa. However, the conference later admitted that the decision was incorrect, explaining that the ball should have been returned to the recovery spot.

“At 11:27 in the first period of the Arizona State-BYU game, Big 12 replay officials stopped the game to review possession by BYU,” the Big 12 said in a statement. “The play showed that the runner lost possession of the ball prior to the forward progress spot, and the ball was recovered by another BYU player at the two-yard line and he was awarded a touchdown.

“Rule 12-3-3-d-2 states ‘If the replay official rules that the ball was not dead, it belongs to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery and any advance is nullified.'

“Replay was incorrect in awarding a score. The correct ruling should have been BYU ball for a third-and-goal attempted from the two-yard line.”

Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham immediately protested the decision and reiterated his frustration after the game. BYU and Arizona State were tied 17-17 entering the fourth quarter before Moa added another touchdown with 2:09 remaining to extend the Cougars lead to 10-points. Moa finished with eight carries for 20 yards and two touchdowns, while Bachmeier threw for 236 yards and a score.

This was not the first time the conference had admitted an officiating mistake involving BYU this season. After the Cougars' 28-24 victory over Notre Dame on October 17, the Big 12 admitted that one second should have remained when quarterback CJ Carr's final pass fell incomplete. The Fighting Irish should have received another opportunity to attempt a game-winning play, while a potential pass interference penalty also went uncalled.

The following week, BYU's 39-31 double-overtime defeat against UCF featured another controversial clock-management decision. After kicker Will Stone recovered his blocked field goal attempt with four seconds remaining, officials incorrectly applied a 10-second runoff because his helmet came off. The clock should have stopped after the blocked-kick recovery, potentially allowing the Knights another opportunity to attempt a winning field goal in regulation.

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All three incidents involved decisions that benefited the Cougars, although they eventually lost the UCF matchup.

The latest admission comes at a pivotal stage of BYU's schedule. The Cougars improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play, moving up to No. 7 in the AP poll. They will now face No. 3 Utah on November 7 in a rivalry showdown.

With the Utes sitting at 5-0 in conference play and BYU and Texas Tech both at 4-1, the upcoming matchup could have enormous implications for the Big 12 championship race and College Football Playoff picture.