College football fans were left fuming after ESPN’s commercial break ran too long, causing viewers to miss a pivotal play in the Colorado vs. Houston matchup.
The incident occurred late in the first half, during a critical 3rd-and-13 situation for the Houston Cougars.
As the game reached the two-minute warning, ESPN, as expected, cut to a commercial break.
But when the final ad ended, fans were shocked to see a flag on the field and players milling about, as if a play had already happened.
The network had missed the crucial 3rd-down attempt entirely, leaving fans and commentators scrambling to catch up.
Confusion on the Field and Airwaves
Play-by-play broadcaster Anish Shroff had to explain what fans had missed while the network was off the air.
Houston quarterback Connor Wiegman was grabbed by his facemask while attempting a throw, resulting in penalties: Colorado’s defense was flagged for the facemask, and Wiegman drew an intentional grounding call.
The two penalties offset each other, and the 3rd-and-13 play was replayed as if nothing had happened.
Despite the resolution on the field, fans were furious that ESPN, often called “The Worldwide Leader in Sports,” had completely missed the action during a key moment.
Fans Take to Social Media
The reaction on social media was swift and sarcastic.
One fan joked that the two-minute timeout exists solely to show commercials, while another remarked that the actual football seemed secondary to the ads.
Barstool Sports commentator Jack Mac expressed disbelief, tweeting, “Did ESPN just straight up miss a play in Colorado-Houston?????”
Game Results and Looking Ahead
Although Houston failed to convert on the replayed 3rd down, they ultimately outlasted Colorado, defeating Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes 36-20.
Colorado, which has been rotating quarterbacks this season, now drops to 1-2.
The Buffaloes will look to rebound when they host Wyoming next week.