Big Ten Adjusting Onside Kick Officiating After Michigan-Minnesota Ending

The Big Ten Conference is modifying how it is officiating onside kicks after a controversial finish to an in-conference game Saturday,

Sep 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Big Ten logo on sideline markers prior to the game between the Washington State Cougars and Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The ending of the Michigan-Minnesota contest has resulted in serious changes from the Big Ten Conference moving forward.

The Big Ten is adjusting how it officiates onside kicks after the Minnesota-Michigan contest Saturday that ended in a 27-24 victory for the Wolverines after a furious comeback by the Gophers. After trailing for most of the contest, Minnesota attempted an onside kick with 1:37 remaining in regulation.

The officials ruled a successful recovery for Minnesota, which would have given the Gophers possession with over 90 seconds remaining. However, the on-field officials also ruled that Minnesota's Matt Kingsbury was offside, forcing a rekick. This time, Michigan recovered, allowing the Wolverines to run out the clock for the win.

Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson and linebacker Matt Kingsbury converge on the football during a onside kick that got called back because of a flag late in the fourth quarter between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. / Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After the contest, the Big Ten did not acknowledge that the offside call was incorrect. The conference did change its lineup for future onside kicks, as the Big Ten announced that officiating crews will now position the line judge and head line judge "on the restraining line of the kicking team." The Big Ten said the change "puts multiple officials in the best position to consistently make the correct judgement." The change, first reported by ESPN, was approved by the NCAA.

The Big Ten noted in its statement that offside penalties are not reviewable by replay. Minnesota was happy with the change, although the result was not what the Gophers had wanted.

"We submitted the play to the Big Ten Coordinator of Officials for review," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said in a statement. "The Coordinator informed us the play was too tight to flag. We credit the Big Ten Conference for recognizing the need to make this change to ensure accurate calls in the future."

Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Big Ten officials hold the down markers during the second half of the NCAA football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

For Big Ten teams hoping to find success in onside recoveries from the new officiating positions, it would behoove the kicking team to surprise their opponents in a less-obvious scenario. According to Advanced Analytics, teams kicking in an expected onside kick position have a success rate below 20% compared to a 60% success rate in an "unexpected" position.

For Nebraska fans, they are likely less hesitant to try a "surprise onside" considering the success of their last few attempts from the Scott Frost era:

The new Big Ten policies are set in place beginning for the upcoming week of action. The first Big Ten matchup for week six of college football is Friday night as Michigan State travels to Oregon. Saturday's slate includes several key conference matchups, including Iowa visiting No. 3 Ohio State, No. 10 Michigan visiting Washington, and Rutgers battling Nebraska.

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