SEC clarifies Iron Bowl confusion

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The SEC explained the end of the half in great detail, and I’m sharing the entire email now with readers in the interest of clarity:

"At the end of the 1st half in the Alabama vs Auburn game, during a play that resulted in a first down inbounds, the game clock went to 0:00. Replay stopped the game to review the clock. The decision from the Instant Replay Official was that video evidence showed there was 1 second on the clock when the player was down so the clock operator was instructed to put 1 second back on the game clock. The referee came back out to the line of scrimmage and informed both teams that the clock would start on the ready for play. The referee got back in position and blew his whistle and wound the clock. The snap was off before the clock went to 0:00. The play was officiated consistent with Rule 12-3-6-d, which states:

Rule 12, Article 3, Section 6
d. Clock adjustment at the end of any quarter.
If the game clock expires at the end of any quarter, either during a down in which it should be stopped by rule through play when the ball becomes dead or after the down upon a request for an available team timeout, the replay official may restore time only under these conditions:

The replay official has indisputable video evidence that time should have remained on the game clock when the ball became dead or when the team timeout was granted;

In the second and fourth quarters only, the team to which the ball would belong after it becomes dead would next put the ball in play from scrimmage (not the try);

In the fourth quarter only, either the score is tied or the team that will next snap the ball is behind by eight points or fewer; and

The replay official’s video evidence includes the timeout signal by an official in the case where the game clock should have stopped for a requested team timeout."

Auburn had time at the end of the first half due to the replay. As for the end of the game, Alabama just got caught with too many players on the field.

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