Pac-12 Admits Officials Botched End Of MSU's Loss To Arizona State

It won't change the result or lessen the sting of the loss, but at least Michigan State has an explanation. 

The Pac-12 issued a mea culpa on Sunday after it was determined that the officials in charge of Arizona State's 10-7 win over Michigan State missed a penalty in the waning seconds that would have awarded the Spartans another chance at a game-tying field goal. 

An Arizona State defender clearly leaped over Michigan State's offensive line on Matt Coghlin's missed field goal with six seconds remaining that sealed the victory for the Sun Devils.  

"There should have been a foul called for leaping," said the statement from the Pac-12. "The penalty would have been 15 yards from the previous spot and an automatic first down. 

"In this case, it would have been administered as half the distance to the goal and Michigan State would have been provided one untimed down." 

Pac-12 refs botched the ending of the ASU-Michigan State game. pic.twitter.com/FqiNEB1ZJp

Mark Dantonio made note of the missed call after the loss, imploring those in charge to "take a good, hard look at the officiating."

They did, and they admitted the mistake -- not that it's any sort of consolation for the Spartans.