Controversial Decision Puts College Football Head Coach On Hot Seat After Thursday Night Loss

A college football coach is heading to the hot seat before his final contest of the season after a questionable decision at the end of a game on Thursday night. 

North Carolina State entered their Week 13 matchup with Georgia Tech needing one more win to become bowl-eligible. However, a late-game decision led to the Yellow Jackets escaping Bobby Dodd Stadium with a 30-29 victory.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack defense surrendered a touchdown on a seven-play, 75-yard drive to Georgia Tech that resulted in NC State's offense needing to move the ball down the field to score a touchdown or field goal with just 22 seconds remaining.

A 28-yard pass from quarterback CJ Bailey to receiver Decari Collins would put the ball at the Georgia Tech 41-yard line with nine seconds to go. On first down, an NC State pass attempt would fall incomplete, leaving five seconds remaining.

Head coach Dave Doeren used his final timeout to discuss NC State's options. Following the timeout, officials added a second to the game clock. Doeren decided to attempt a field goal instead of risking running out the clock on a play that was stopped in bounds.

That left the Wolfpack's kicker, Collin Smith, needing to connect on a 58-yard field goal. Smith missed, and NC State fell to 5-6 on the season. 

Many fans on social media thought Doeren should be fired after the loss to Georgia Tech.