Wren Baker has been given clarification regarding the unusual first-half ending to last Saturday’s Backyard Brawl — one that cost the Mountaineers an opportunity at points.
Baker, Director of Athletics and Vice President at West Virginia, issued a statement Thursday saying it’s been confirmed to the WVU coaching staff that rules relating to the interpretation and application of 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty were incorrect.
Statement from @wrenbaker regarding last Saturday’s incorrect, end-of-half penalty enforcement against Pitt. pic.twitter.com/2mAG15BVyK
— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) September 18, 2025
The penalty in question came on what was the final play of the opening half. With West Virginia leading Pitt 7-3, Mountaineers’ quarterback Nicco Marchiol fielded a snap on a play that began with 7 seconds and ran 12 yards for a first down to the Panthers’ 42-yard line.
At the end of the play and before time had expired, the Panthers were flagged for unnecessary roughness.
However, the 15-yard penalty was never assessed. Instead, the half came to an end as Marchiol was tackled inbounds, WVU was out of timeouts, and even with the penalty, the officials incorrectly deemed another play could not be run without at least 3 seconds remaining.
Had West Virginia gotten off another snap, it would’ve almost certainly attempted a 45-yard field goal.
The penalty was not marked off to start the second-half kickoff, one the Mountaineers received in what became a 31-24 overtime victory.
Last Friday, longtime Atlantic Coast Conference referee Gary Patterson quit as a result of the way a review was handled during the Connecticut-Syracuse game on September 6. Patterson was scheduled to referee the Backyard Brawl before terminating his contract with the league.