Ohio State - Notre Dame refs adding 1 second back on the clock led to the worst bad beat of the season
The end of Ohio State-Notre Dame featured what will certainly be one of the most dramatic finishes of the college football season.
It also featured what will undoubtedly be the most brutal bad beat that sports bettors will face on Saturdays this fall.
On the 3rd-and-goal right outside the Notre Dame end zone with just three seconds to go, Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum ran in a touchdown to give Ohio State the 16-14 walk-off victory as time expired.
Well, that’s how it looked until the referees decided there was a second left on the clock for an extra point try for the Buckeyes.
That’s not the end of the world for Ohio State, who would kick the extra point with ease and add to the score by a single point.
For bettors and sportsbooks alike, it was a devastating blow as the extra point pushed all bets on the game.
"TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. THEY WALK IT OFF AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM."
Ohio State's Chip Trayanum scores on a one-yard run to give the Buckeyes a victory against Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/DpCgbBuRvk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 24, 2023
You see, the game spread was three points for both Ohio State and Notre Dame bettors. A two-point difference in the final outcome would’ve cashed every bet for Notre Dame +2.5 or +3, but a three-point difference doesn’t do anyone any favors.
Bettors got sent back their wagers, and sportsbooks lost the opportunity to take any money from anyone with the final score. Let this be a lesson to always take the hook.
Even worse: it turns out Notre Dame played the final two snaps of the game with just 10 men on the field for the defense.
If you’re looking for an example for why football is probably not scripted, this is it.