On his podcast, Always College Football, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy stated he disagreed with the personal foul penalty called on Miami edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot in the 26-20 overtime loss at SMU on Saturday. The penalty came during a pivotal moment in the final drive of regulation by SMU.
The play before the unnecessary roughness penalty was called, resulting in a personal foul, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings had a 10-yard completion to running back T.J. Harden on third down and 19 to the SMU 48. SMU was faced with fourth and nine with 1:08 remaining and about 20 yards out of field goal range.
SMU had no timeouts remaining. Mario Cristobal called a timeout for Miami after the Hurricanes saw the SMU formation. In a loud stadium, Lightfoot did not hear the whistle from the referees. When Lightfoot pulled up, he bumped into Jennings but held up the SMU signal caller.
A personal foul was called, putting SMU at the Miami 37-yard line. Seven plays later, SMU kicker Sam Keltner kicked a 38-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining to tie the game. Cristobal chose to take a knee and force overtime, despite Miami having timeouts remaining.
"I am all about protecting the quarterback. That was a soft penalty...I see penalties or plays like that all the time calling games...The defenders...do their best...that was not malicious...He didn't even hit him as hard as he possibly could...He tried to hold up. He didn't hold up quite enough. But to alter the game with that call...just couldn't get on board with it. I disagreed with the penalty."ESPN CFP Analyst Greg McElroy
McElroy won a Texas 5A State Championship at Southlake, Carroll and Bowl Championship Series National Title with Alabama in 2009. After two seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets, McElroy retired in 2012. McElroy began his announcing career with the SEC Network in 2014.
McElroy called the Miami season opener against Notre Dame for ABC with Sean McDonough. Before stating his disagreement with the penalty, McElroy set up how the unnecessary roughness penalty occurred and later stated that Miami is its own worst enemy.
Miami committed 12 penalties for 96 yards on Saturday to four for 40 for SMU. Carson Beck through an interception on the final offensive play for Miami in overtime. SMU only needed a field goal to win, but scored a TD to earn the 26-20 victory.