The Greek Tragedy of NC State-Vanderbilt, and a Wonky Rule
The ending of NC State-Vanderbilt was catastrophic, but CJ Bailey had the right idea.
You win some, you lose some. Not all wins and losses are created equal, though, and the one NC State suffered in the final moments of their Week 3 game against Vanderbilt might be the worst one I’ve ever seen. Not in terms of stakes, of course, but if you want the purest example of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory, a modern Green tragedy, look no further than the chaotic final play of this contest.
CJ Bailey Disaster Class
Six seconds remaining in the game. The NC State Wolfpack are leading by three, 31-28. They have the ball deep in their own territory. It is fourth down. If you’re NC State, you can do one of two things: punt or take a safety. A punt opens up the possibility of a block or big return. With only six seconds left, the returner would have to score in order for the Commodores to lose. A fair catch would be cutting it awfully close with six precious seconds remaining. He’d likely receive the ball a little before midfield, with the Wolfpack having to punt out of their own endzone.
The second option is a bit safer. If you take the safety, i.e. have CJ Bailey just run a few yards backwards and take a knee, or run out of the back of the endzone, you make the score 31-30. The difference is now you can execute an unblockable free kick (or punt) from your own 20. Vandy probably fields it around their own 30, with 70 yards to cover via the return or on one or two plays after a fair catch. A field goal would be unlikely; Vandy had no time outs and would have had to get a chunk play while still getting out of bounds in only six seconds.
All in all, NC State was very, very likely going to win this game. They did not, however. Over the last 20 seasons of college football, teams leading, with possession, and less than 30 seconds left in the game were 1046-1, the one loss being Miami's loss to Georgia Tech in 2023. Teams are now 1046-2 in this scenario.
Wolfpack QB CJ Bailey took the snap on what would be the final play of the game. He scrambles deep into his own endzone, trying to kill as much time as he can. He then runs forward trying to evade the rush coming from his blindside, but is swarmed. Bailey is hit by multiple players and the ball pops up. Vanderbilt recovers as the clock strikes zero for a touchdown. 34-31, Vanderbilt. Final of 35-31 after the extra point.
Unbelievable.
An Odd Rule
There is no denying Bailey’s blunder was an all-timer. In a vacuum, this is one of the most heartbreaking losses in the history of college football. That play got me thinking, though; why was he trying to evade the rush and kill more time?
In my head, similar to when a team scores a touchdown at the end of the half or regulation and kicks an untimed extra point, the team who scores a safety will still get their kickoff no matter what. Why do they get to kick the extra point? Because they scored a touchdown and they earned it. But the team that tackles an opposing player in their endzone? They get two points, but there must be time on the clock in order for them to get their kickoff.
So CJ Bailey, who easily could have just taken a knee or ran out of the back of the endzone, Dan Orlovsky-style, was incentivized to scramble around. That’s why he was evading the Vandy rush, and what ended up costing him and the Wolfpack the game. If the clock hits zero before he’s brought down, there will be no ensuing safety kick and NC State wins. If there’s any time left on the clock, Vanderbilt gets their shot at a miracle.
I see an opportunity for a rule change here.
You Get What You've Earned
Why doesn’t the team that scored a safety get their kickoff? They earned it. That’s part of the perks of tackling a guy in his own endzone. Two points and the ball. When you score a touchdown, you get six points and an extra point try. The kickoff after the extra point is to the benefit of the opponent, not the scoring team, so it makes sense to not allow that with no time left. A team should be entitled to what the rules say they will receive as a result of their own accomplishment, right?
Yes, the kickoff would be untimed. If a fair catch is called, the next play would also be untimed. That shouldn’t be an issue, there are plenty of untimed plays in football. If there’s no time on the clock and the opposition keeps committing pass interference, for example, an untimed play occurs. And if there’s PI again on the untimed play? Another one happens. This can go on and on and on with no time on the clock.
It should be noted that, in the NFL, if a touchdown is scored at the end of regulation and the extra point is meaningless, they do not attempt it. You only line up for an extra point or two point try if it could affect the outcome of the game. You always kick the extra point in college, as Vanderbilt did after scoring on Bailey's fumble (an untimed play!). You can add that to this rule change. “A team who converts a safety at the end of regulation shall receive two points, as well as the ensuing punt, if they trail by one score or less.” Something like that.
Still a Horrific Play
Justice for CJ? Nah. Ya done fucked up, kid. But at least his heart was in the right place by trying to wind the clock down to zero. Justice for teams that score on a safety is what we really need. They deserve their kickoff, no matter what the clock says.
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