The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Auburn Tigers delivered a thrilling, back-and-forth first half in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day, but a blunder by ESPN caused fans to miss the start of a key 4th-and-goal play that resulted in a Minnesota touchdown.
With the game tied 10-10 in the second quarter, the Golden Gophers put together an epic drive from their own 8-yard line to the Auburn goal line, but multiple goal-line reviews caused delays on the broadcast. The plays on both 2nd and 3rd down needed to be checked by officials, and after the refs determined that Minnesota did not get into the endzone on 3rd down, the Golden Gophers called a timeout. ESPN went to a quick commercial break – but the broadcast eventually resumed with Minnesota’s Bryce Witham holding the ball in the endzone after catching a touchdown pass.
Sick commercial break ESPN!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/GGMfRDTg8c
— Ryan Douglas (@TheRealRDouglas) January 1, 2020
How does ESPN have a commercial on while the Gophers score a TD on 4th and goal? This isn’t their first football broadcast of the season…@espn pic.twitter.com/HeOWNfMvf1
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) January 1, 2020
Way to go ESPN, missing the Minnesota TD with another damn Allstate commercial.
— Kevin Noon (@Kevin_Noon) January 1, 2020
ESPN just missed the Minnesota touchdown because the play started before they were back from commercial break. That shouldn't happen.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 1, 2020
Seriously @espn we missed a Gophers TD because you can’t come back from commercial break fast enough!? Get it together!!#SkiUMah and #rowtheboat pic.twitter.com/4Bskq1zRn0
— Row the Boat and SKOL!!! (@aHyerPower) January 1, 2020
Wow thanks ESPN for letting me see that 4th down play! Really enjoyed that commercial instead
— Ryan 🏀🏈 (@Wentland828) January 1, 2020
ESPN thought it could sneak a commercial break in during that timeout. Apparently Minnesota scored a TD while Tina Fey was trying to sell me something. #OutbackBowl
— Jamie Lawson (@shelbymustang) January 1, 2020
AND WE MISSED IT BECAUSE OF A STUPID COMMERCIAL WTF ESPN
— Coach Tom Blazer (@SenorBlazer) January 1, 2020
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