There are a multitude of ways a team can be assessed an unsportmanlike conduct penalty in college football.
However, the video board isn't something you expect to be a reason.
That was the case in Miami (Ohio) vs. Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as the RedHawks were flagged for some video hijinks against the Bobcats that truly epitomized #MACtion.
Ohio was up 17-7 when it attempted a 34-yard field goal just before halftime to try and extend its lead. Kicker Brack Peacock missed the attempt, but a flag was thrown on the field.
The referee explained that Miami (Ohio) had "depictions of the field goal uprights on the scoreboard," which resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the home team.
When the ESPN broadcast showed what was displayed inside
Yager Stadium, the video board clearly had multiple field goal posts on it, meant to be a distraction that clearly worked − but was illegal.
Never seen this call before 😭
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 11, 2026
Miami (Ohio) was called for a penalty for having too many field goal posts on the video board 😅 pic.twitter.com/bRHZcpU8B7
Multiple goal posts used as a distraction on the video board results in the DOINK!
— College Football Campus Tour (@cfbcampustour) November 11, 2026
Refs throw the flag for illegal use of the video board. Second FG attempt is a botched snap! #MACtion pic.twitter.com/y6ph8TnHb5
This is something that caught on from the NFL. The league informed teams in September it modified what can be shown on video boards during field goal and extra point attempts after a viral post from Ryan Paganetti, a former analytics coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders, points out how the New England Patriots put a shot of the field that included the goal posts, creating an optical illusion for kickers.
Luckily for Miami (Ohio), the penalty wasn't too costly. Ohio's second field goal attempt resulted in a botched snap and kept the score at 17-7 at halftime.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami (Ohio) tried to distract kicker with video board. It was flagged for it.
