Big Ten Changes Onside Kick Officiating

The Big Ten Conference is changing its officiating mechanics for onside kicks following a controversial call during the Minnesota-Michigan game, where Minnesota's Matt Kingsbury was ruled offside after what appeared to be a successful recovery of an onside kick. This decision came after Minnesota's furious comeback, which saw them score 21 points in the fourth quarter, only to lose 27-24 after the ruling forced a re-kick that Michigan recovered. While the Big Ten did not admit the original call was incorrect, they have approved the placement of additional officials on the line of scrimmage to ensure more accurate calls in future games. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck expressed gratitude for the conference's prompt response to improve officiating standards, noting that the call was deemed too close to flag. Critics, including former coaches and officials, have voiced concerns over the ruling, suggesting it undermined the integrity of the game. Minnesota will now focus on their upcoming match against USC, hoping to turn their season around after the controversial loss.