Oregon kicker Andrew Boyle. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Did Oregon mean to pull off this onside kick vs. Ohio State?

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Oct 12, 2024 9:27 PM ET

College football fans knew No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Oregon would be a must-watch affair but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with an accidental onside recovery on their bingo card for the night.

Or was it an accident? After scoring a touchdown (but failing the two-point conversion) to cut the Buckeyes' lead to 14-12, Oregon appeared as if it would kick off normally.

Andrew Boyle booted the ball directly into the chest of an Ohio State special teams player who was clearly caught off guard. Because the receiving team made contact with the ball, by rule, it became live and anybody could recover it, and Oregon did.

OREGON JUST KICKED IT OFF AN OHIO STATE PLAYER AND RECOVERED THE KICK @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/Y0fx2mGsca
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 13, 2024

It's unclear if Boyle intentionally kicked the ball to deflect off an Ohio State player but it was an incredibly rare but legal play.

The extra possession for Oregon in the second quarter allowed it to kick a field goal and take a 15-14 lead.

However, on that same possession one of its top receivers, Traeshon Holden, was ejected for spitting on an Ohio State defender.

Transon Holden ejected for spitting on an Ohio State player.

Yes, this is real. pic.twitter.com/PLXuL0U7Wg
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 13, 2024

Holden only had one catch for 32 yards but video replay clearly showed the unsportsmanlike moment. The penalty is something officials have been cracking down on this year.

On Sept. 21, an offensive lineman for NC State was ejected for the same infraction against Clemson.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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