[Highlight] NC State @ Vanderbilt - CJ Bailey fumbles the ball while trying to run out the clock with no time left, and Vandy falls on it to win the game

[u/Ok-Soil-5133]

https://streamable.com/utx2f1

[u/iamnotjex]

new dumbest way to lose a football game ive ever seen

[u/HCRanchuw → u/iamnotjex]

I’m a Nebraska fan, and I’m dumbfounded.

[u/ALifelongVacation → u/HCRanchuw]

First thought was man this is right in line with some shit we’ve seen the last decade.

[u/srector1224 → u/ALifelongVacation]

Adrian Martinez was always good for a game-losing fumble haha

[u/Love__Scars → u/srector1224]

That 2021 Michigan game still haunts my dreams

[u/Gold-Swing5775 → u/HCRanchuw]

I've seen a lot of interesting ways to lose games but even this one has me beat

[u/OnionFuturesDealer → u/Gold-Swing5775]

Honestly surprised we haven’t tried this already

[u/Fruit_Fly_LikeBanana → u/HCRanchuw]

I came here to say even Scott Frost never reached this level of one score loss

[u/Warm_Shoulder3606 → u/iamnotjex]

Miami GT still takes the cake for me, but this is definitely number 2 lmao

[u/GThitstick → u/Warm_Shoulder3606]

At least GT still had to actually had to drive 70 yards to score and win it. This was just handing the game away

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/GThitstick]

Yeah but on the other hand, Miami just had to do one thing and they literally could not lose.

[u/coolycooly → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

Didnt NC State just have to do one thing and they couldnt lose?

[u/swammeyjoe → u/coolycooly]

Nah if he goes down before he was hit it would have been a safety with a second or two to go. We could have gotten the "fair catch FG" if the ensuing punt wasn't great. That would have been amazing.

[u/doubleyou-tee-hache → u/swammeyjoe]

I think you're still allowed to kick from the tee after a safety in college.

[u/Lukey_Jangs2 → u/doubleyou-tee-hache]

Now I’m bummed we missed a 75 yard FG attempt off a tee

[u/No_Bill7679 → u/GThitstick]

Miami had the game won against GT. There’s no argument for why they continued running the ball. Kneel and the game is over.

NC state had to make a strategic game decision and it backfired. They could have also punted it away and had it returned for a TD. Lots of things could have happened.

But definitively, Miami had to just kneel it once and the game is over.

[u/MelodicDeer1072 → u/No_Bill7679]

NC State could have also simply kneeled, afford a safety, and essentially win.

[u/No_Bill7679 → u/MelodicDeer1072]

I’m not arguing it wasn’t a stupid loss. But there simply was too much time. Even if they did surrender a safety, vandy would have had at least a few seconds for a miracle play.

There was a high probably to win still, but not fully in their control. Miami absolutely had it in their control and lost.

[u/Hugo_5t1gl1tz → u/No_Bill7679]

I may be wrong, but I’d think the safety is still a safer (heh) play. 6 seconds of running around in your end zone is a lot. 3-4 seconds to get a miracle 75 yards has to be a lower risk

[u/wulah89 → u/No_Bill7679]

I agree. My knee jerk reaction upon first seeing it was this was worse. And I think maybe it is more devastating since it all happened in one play.

But Miami/GT was a worse call from the coaches. Kneel the clock out and win the game. Running the ball was just a blatantly incorrect call. Whereas this wasn't really an incorrect call, just terrible execution. If the QB just backpedals to the boundary and steps out for a safety once anyone gets close to them, which we've seen often times enough in these situations, then either the clock runs out or you do a safety kick with 1 or 2 seconds which is preferable than punting out of your own endzone with a chance for a block.

I don't think the coaches told him to run forward into the defense with only 1 arm on the ball. It was the correct strategic call, just poorly executed. And maybe it falls on coaching still if they didn't emphasize ball security and to not run forward no matter what, we don't know what discussions they had prior to the play. But still, it falls under the camp of poor execution rather than bad strategy, where Miami/GT was just blatantly wrong strategy which still makes that one worse, just imo

[u/No_Bill7679 → u/wulah89]

I think if you polled every single coach in CFB, there would be varying arguments about what the right strategy would be in the NC state game. Whatever the strategy is, every coach would likely agree it was just poor execution by the QB.

If you polled every single coach in CFB on how to handle the end of the Miami GT game, every single coach but one would agree kneeling is the right decision

[u/w00t4me → u/Warm_Shoulder3606]

I legit think this is worse

[u/Kilen13 → u/w00t4me]

Yea ours was bad but GaTech still had to put on an offensive drive to score... This is something else entirely

[u/Foxy_Grandpa- → u/Kilen13]

Doesn’t that make it worse? You had a 100% chance of winning unless you shot your own foot, and even then you were very likely to win unless you let them drive 70 yards down the field. A lot more embarrassing than a panicked play as he tried to wind down the remaining seconds.

[u/MelodicDeer1072 → u/Foxy_Grandpa-]

70 yards with no timeouts IIRC

[u/251Cane → u/MelodicDeer1072]

And our safety bit on a pump fake on a hail mary

[u/J-Goo → u/[deleted]]

*Cleat yeet

[u/framingXjake → u/iamnotjex]

new dumbest way to lose a football game ive ever seen yet

fify

[u/inshamblesx]

i’d rather lose 70-0 than lose like this

[u/TheExpansiveUniverse → u/inshamblesx]

I think even Portland State agrees with you

[u/bens111 → u/TheExpansiveUniverse]

Rutgers would have to agree as well

[u/Jonas_Venture_Sr → u/inshamblesx]

Yea, that game gets turned off at half time. There is no hope, so you can stop caring. I have a lot of experience with this.

[u/evantually421]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ending like this what the hell

[u/Moose4KU → u/evantually421]

Maybe the most inexcusable loss I've ever seen. Gives Miami not kneeling against GT a real run for its money

[u/TheDemonBarber → u/Moose4KU]

First thing I thought too lol. Finally we have a loss that rivals it

[u/tdoger → u/TheDemonBarber]

People forget Cristobal had the same loss vs Stanford when he was at Oregon.

Had the game in the bag, just had to kneel out the clock. Ran it instead, fumble, Stanford goes and scores to win it. Took him two times to finally learn his lesson. That one for some reason didn't get as much national criticism.

Maybe because it was a lower profile game with Stanford being atrocious, but Oregon was just coming off beating Ohio State and was a top team.

[u/surgingchaos → u/tdoger]

Wrong Stanford loss. Cristobal's first no-kneel disaster that you are talking about was in 2018.

[u/Honestly_ → u/Moose4KU]

The only one passes it in my head: Baylor's infamous 1999 attempt to run up the score on UNLV in the final seconds.

Baylor led 24-21, UNLV had no timeouts left, they just had to take a knee.

Kevin Steele says go for it. There's a fumble and UNLV gets a 99-yard fumble return touchdown to win the game.

It wasn't on TV but someone found sideline footage years later:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozQXl17VpG0

[u/BaylorOso → u/Honestly_]

Sigh.

Was waiting for this to come up.

[u/EverOnAndUpward → u/evantually421]

I love football

[u/RogueOneisbestone → u/EverOnAndUpward]

I hate it

[u/Ugaalive1991 → u/EverOnAndUpward]

LarryDavid.gif

[u/Nightsky07 → u/EverOnAndUpward]

It's why I love college football!

[u/poobert13 → u/evantually421]

"This is the one thing we didn't want to happen."

[u/Regal---Lager → u/evantually421]

This is the dumbest ending I have ever seen. At least 30x dumber than Trouble With The Snap.

[u/mishra1111 → u/Regal---Lager]

WHOA

[u/Thatguydrag → u/mishra1111]

HE

[u/NotABot1235 → u/Thatguydrag]

HAS

[u/banjocoyote → u/NotABot1235]

TROUBLE

[u/BobFed51 → u/banjocoyote]

WITH

[u/pocketfences → u/BobFed51]

THE

[u/blay12 → u/pocketfences]

SNAP

[u/Falconsfan8006 → u/evantually421]

This is Miami not Kneeling against GT levels of incompetence

[u/STLOliver → u/evantually421]

College football play.

[u/SpadeRyker]

I truly hate this program

[u/Zloggt → u/SpadeRyker]

ANOTHER 5-YEAR EXTENSION TO DAVE DOERAN!

(the fact that this still could happen is genuinely sad lol)

[u/Licit_x64 → u/Zloggt]

It’ll be an emphatic 35-10 win over the Tar Heels and the ink will have dried by the time they light the belltower red.

[u/danimal6000 → u/Licit_x64]

I hate that you’re right. I’ll take the win tho

[u/Lt704Dan → u/Zloggt]

He'll somehow pull out a win against UNC and get another extension

[u/BMR117 → u/SpadeRyker]

Your flairs… ooof. You are not having a good time.

[u/Dijohn17 → u/SpadeRyker]

What's crazy is that when we were up double digits in the fourth I just knew we were going to lose

[u/jivson]

all time psycho ending

[u/pprrrrrbbbbtttt → u/jivson]

Feels like an insane thing to try with :06 left. 2 or 3? Sure. 6 is an eternity

[u/Gavangus → u/pprrrrrbbbbtttt]

The key is that you ACTUALLY TAKE THE SAFETY... Worst case there is a second or 2 left and your still up

[u/fritzperls_of_wisdom → u/Gavangus]

The number one rule is you don’t take the hit to risk the fumble.

Go to the back of the end zone. Run around as much as you can and step out when someone gets close. Like you said, if there’s a second or two left, not ideal…but still fine.

Just do not let anyone hit you to risk a fumble.

[u/btveron → u/fritzperls_of_wisdom]

I remember last year when Mendoza ran straight back and as soon as an Iowa player was near the endzone he fell down for the safety to end the game. This happened to make it so IU didn't cover the spread and a bunch of people started yelling "GAMBLING CONSPIRACY! WHY ELSE WOULD HE DO THAT?!" on the internet.

[u/storeactions → u/fritzperls_of_wisdom]

What I keep getting caught on is that they should've been holding intentionally in the end zone. As soon as they ran the offense out there I thought of this from the Ravens a while back and was sure it was gonna be the best strategy with six seconds left.

[u/Eddie5pi → u/pprrrrrbbbbtttt]

And then, you're supposed to have the OL basically tackle everyone on defense, since the holding penalties don't extend the game anyway. To let guys through practically unblocked is insane

[u/Crazed8s → u/pprrrrrbbbbtttt]

A safety would’ve been just fine. He didn’t need to take the whole 6 seconds. Just like fall down bro.

[u/El_Chairman_Dennis → u/pprrrrrbbbbtttt]

They knew they could give up the safety and still win, even if there's a second or two left on the clock. Literally all he had to do was not fumble and they win that game

[u/OsuLost31to0 → u/[deleted]]

Football as envisioned in the 1860s

[u/herpblarb6319]

NC State shit

[u/OneAngryPanda → u/herpblarb6319]

I wanna die

[u/comomellamo → u/OneAngryPanda]

I am so fucking angry. We have had bad losses before but this? Insane

[u/alastria → u/OneAngryPanda]

I am so angry right now I want to punch a wall. Just leave Doeren in Nashville.

[u/Bigdeacenergy → u/herpblarb6319]

Nah, this is just plain fucking stupid. Can’t blame everything on a curse

[u/Ugaalive1991 → u/Bigdeacenergy]

I blame Dave.

[u/Vitosi4ek → u/Bigdeacenergy]

6 seconds, right? Why not just punt? Even if it went well and the QB was tackled with a second left, there's still a free kick to defend. Surely it's better to only defend a return instead of having to defend a return anyway and also risking shit like this happening?

[u/OdeToTheMets628 → u/Vitosi4ek]

They were trying to avoid letting Vandy run another offensive play.

[u/GenericNameSimulated → u/OdeToTheMets628]

And they succeeded!

[u/comomellamo → u/GenericNameSimulated]

Task failed successfully

[u/OdeToTheMets628 → u/GenericNameSimulated]

Touché 😂

[u/drCongo- → u/Vitosi4ek]

I mean, this really should have worked. Just all-time bad execution.

[u/Manae → u/drCongo-]

Yeah, absolutely the correct play, but the QB should be hugging the ball with both arms as soon as they are touching it and give themselves up as soon as the first defender is within arm's reach.

[u/goonSquad15 → u/Bigdeacenergy]

Plenty of coaches + QBs have been plain fucking stupid. There are levels to this

[u/tarheelsrule441 → u/herpblarb6319]

God delayed our game against Clemson because He didn't want us to miss this.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName → u/herpblarb6319]

Chuck it 40 yards or take the safety. Horrible choice by him.

[u/Ugaalive1991 → u/herpblarb6319]

Dave should get sacked on the tarmac.

[u/ClaudeLemieux → u/herpblarb6319]

People don't think it be like it is

...but it do...

[u/Scurezza]

That is so stupid

Just fall down and you win the game

[u/ZackAvion → u/Scurezza]

Or just walk backwards and go out the back of the end zone. Regardless, running into the defense was not the move.

[u/VersaTron → u/ZackAvion]

Or just wrap the ball with two hands. He’s out there with a chicken wing on it like a damn idiot.

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/VersaTron]

Yeah he should have done that but I would not include that as an “or.” In this situation you should be holding it tightly with both hands, but also you cannot get touched. It’s run out the back or go down yourself, no other options.

[u/Disastrous-Wonder153 → u/Scurezza]

Well, in all fairness, that's what he did. Forgot the most important part, holding on to the ball.

[u/BrokenClxwn]

"Nice for us to get a win over a SEC opponent."

Boy was I wrong... holy fuck

[u/jdhall010 → u/BrokenClxwn]

To be fair, NC State by all rights should have gotten this win.

[u/Stobros]

Possibly the dumbest play I’ve ever seen. The ONLY thing you have to do is to go down or run out the back of the endzone. Do not let a single person touch you.

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom → u/Stobros]

But you did see it

[u/MonotoneTanner → u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

Guy even thought about kneeling and chose not to

[u/Warm-Will-7861 → u/MonotoneTanner]

The worst part is had he even tried to kneel, he would’ve been down as soon as he started the motion, but nope, run into the defense

[u/wefolas → u/Stobros]

It makes sense, roll your qb out to the right, run the clock out as you head oob. I think that vandy guy just got such a great jump (he's so fast I assumed he guessed the snap count, but looks like he's actually just that quick off the line) that he blew up the play and qb was afraid to roll right even with two blockers there.

[u/jurzydude → u/wefolas]

yeah that guy definitely "blew up" the designed play... but not really. like, he still very clearly could've rolled to the right and had nobody touch him. stopping and running forward into the defense was a mindless decision

[u/Ugaalive1991]

Certified NC State shit

[u/warnelldawg → u/Ugaalive1991]

At least you still have the dawgs

[u/randomthrowaway9796 → u/warnelldawg]

Wait a second, the athens sub guy watches football???

[u/External-Log4638]

How to cope with another NC State loss

https://firedoeren.com/coping-with-another-loss

[u/NCSUGrad2012 → u/External-Log4638]

I need this way too frequently

[u/Khaldaan]

Choke of the year

[u/Beenthere-doneit55 → u/Khaldaan]

Choke of the century

[u/Electric_Rex → u/Khaldaan]

In any sport

[u/Lobsterzilla]

Maybe we are cursed

[u/IamCaboose → u/Lobsterzilla]

You’re not cursed if your players are just dumb.

[u/HeckOnWheels195 → u/IamCaboose]

The curse makes them forgetful

[u/BobbysSmile → u/Lobsterzilla]

Will Wade sends his regards.

[u/Lakelyfe09]

I actually can’t believe that. As a coach how the fuck do you not tell CJ Bailey to just go out the back of the endzone and not risk this? I mean this was literally the ONE thing you couldn’t do.

[u/Stobros → u/Lakelyfe09]

I would almost guarantee he was told that. Players don’t always listen.

[u/Conscious-Sir-1596 → u/Stobros]

Yeah, it almost certainly had nothing to do with coaching. I have no idea why that kid did that.

[u/BeardedAsian → u/Conscious-Sir-1596]

He had Vandy +10000 live

[u/FatMamaJuJu → u/Lakelyfe09]

Why have Bailey in at all? They subbed out Wilson even though Bailey was never going to throw it

[u/BosskOnASegway]

What a wild way to throw a game. All they had to do was slowly walk backwards and have their lineman hold like crazy. Instead they did whatever the hell that was

[u/TheCornwallis → u/BosskOnASegway]

Yeah haven’t nfl teams abused this by holding like crazy.

[u/BosskOnASegway → u/TheCornwallis]

Yea it should be common knowledge how to do this by now. The Ravens have burnt 15+ seconds on a single play in these type of situations before.

[u/the_gaymer_girl → u/BosskOnASegway]

And the NFL immediately changed the rule right after that to prevent it from ever happening again.

[u/sahloFolina04]

This might be the worst way to lose a game since trouble with the snap

[u/Se7enCostanza10 → u/sahloFolina04]

What about a Hail Mary after the games over?

[u/hotsauceyum → u/Se7enCostanza10]

You are SICK.

SICK.

GET HELP

[u/DDub04 → u/sahloFolina04]

Miami not kneeling is pretty bad.

[u/Im_Daydrunk → u/DDub04]

Yeah and IMO its the worst kind of loss. I think anytime you can kneel to end the game and decide to run instead that is the worst possible way to lose a football game

With this play NC State had to do an actual play in a specific way to get the outcome they wanted. Miami actively decided to not just end the game they had won and then lost

[u/ClaudeLemieux → u/sahloFolina04]

this was worse.

Believe me when i tell you this was worse.

[u/EarRepresentative393 → u/ClaudeLemieux]

Your flair….you know game endings

[u/ClaudeLemieux → u/EarRepresentative393]

Punting is winning losing.

[u/ImagineIfBaconDied → u/sahloFolina04]

or Miami-GT

[u/ConnorK5]

He sucks oh my god.

[u/The-Young-Lion]

This might be the worst way to lose I’ve ever seen.

[u/saerax]

Any other program, I'd say investigate CJ for gambling.

[u/pasqua3]

If you're going to take a safety to not risk a punt block in your own endzone then just kneel immediately and give them 2 seconds to return a safety free kick or fair catch and hail Mary. Why the fuck would you let yourself get hit in the end zone.

Doeren should be toast.

[u/Rough_Buddy6903 → u/pasqua3]

What’s crazy is you couldn’t fair catch a safety kick again until this year. And under the rules it makes it a free kick, which you can fair catch and then try a fair catch kick. Realistically you could hit a 70 yarder on a run up kick like a kickoff

[u/dnashifter → u/pasqua3]

I would love to hear what the QB was told before the play. It was going to be hard to run off all 6 seconds, and if you're leaving time, who cares if it's 1 second or 3?

[u/GratefulDawg73]

All-time dumbest play candidate.

[u/MetalFabFF]

Probably a worse loss than that beat down from Virginia

[u/Wulfgang_NSH]

Legitmately one of the most insane Vandy football endings ever. Poor Wolfpack fans.

[u/TheDefenseNeverRests → u/Wulfgang_NSH]

Except we were on the OTHER side of it. Wild.

[u/clayfus_doofus → u/TheDefenseNeverRests]

That's what I've been saying. They out-Vandyed Vandy.

[u/MIZ_09]

Dave Doeren shouldn’t be allowed back in Raleigh.

[u/Patrick2701 → u/MIZ_09]

No, he is getting another extension

[u/Awkward_Dad_2023]

The most Dave Doeren way to lose a game

[u/SideshowCircuits]

I was warned about Nc state pain…I was not ready

[u/Somali_Pir8]

NC State of NC State shit.

[u/ChargeisKill]

WHAT THE FUCK NOOOOO WAAAAAAAY

[u/jakarooo]

I’m so sick of dealing with this terrorist

[u/RollTide16-18]

The most NC State shit game of all time

[u/Phobia117]

There were 14,000,605 things NC State could have done in that situation, and Vanderbilt wins in exactly 1 of them

[u/PM_ME_UR_BAGEL_BITES]

I'd take Steve Belichick over Dave at this point.

[u/MrSCR23]

That should get people fired

[u/Kimber80]

I've been watching college football since 1970 and I've never seen a team lose this way before

[u/Ilovemyangelsomuch]

You hike the ball, run to the back corner, and heave the ball lobbing it high and far out of bounds. I have no idea what he was doing

[u/Dijohn17 → u/Ilovemyangelsomuch]

Honestly he didn't even have to do that, just run out of the fucking endzone

[u/TheDefenseNeverRests]

We had this game well in hand the whole time. I was confident at every moment. No, I will not be taking questions.

[u/Appropriate-Joke-806 → u/TheDefenseNeverRests]

I can’t believe how bad we fucked it up with that INT with 2 timeouts and a minute left in the red zone. And then they fucked it up worse.

[u/GetYourVanOffMyMeat → u/TheDefenseNeverRests]

I mean, really.

Great effort, but how did NC State ever think they would really win the game, up 3, after intercepting a terrible pass inside the five-yard line, with a minute left, and a chance to take a safety with 6 seconds left?

[u/Okura0827]

One of the worst ways I've ever seen a team lose a game. And I've seen some inexplicable stuff

[u/RadagastTheWhite]

Maybe the worst play I’ve ever witnessed

[u/landobobandos]

Bro just fall to the ground and you win…

[u/ilikepie145]

Could have taken a safety and they would have won. What a freaking idiot

[u/Manwar7]

That’s seriously the most sickening loss I’ve witnessed any team I root for endure. In any sport. I seriously want to fucking explode. Fire the entire coaching staff what the fuck

[u/Even-Combination4407]

That’s something I haven’t seen before

[u/Icy-Recognition-8700]

Mario Cristobal is that you

[u/Brochacho27 → u/Icy-Recognition-8700]

Im thanking my ancestors that this wasnt us last night

[u/AgreeableEconomy1587]

That play symbolizes the entire Dave Doreon era

[u/CPGK17]

Hey, we don’t have the stupidest loss anymore!

[u/palabear]

They literally could have done anything else and win. Holy shit.

[u/Choleric_Introvert]

Could have just taken a safety and still won lol

[u/wheeze_on]

Generational fumble

[u/IamCaboose]

How on earth, as a player, do you INITIATE contact there?

How on earth, as a coach, do you not tell your player to just run out of the end zone?????

[u/Bigdeacenergy]

Hahahah

[u/CWG4BF]

Holy shit

[u/dagreenman18]

Check bros Kalshi and Polymarket accounts because there is no fucking way

[u/LeftyGroves]

Fire everyone into the sun. This might be the worst thing I’ve seen happen on a football field at any level

[u/Aaronontheweb]

If we don’t get sickos game of the week for this then I give up

[u/6ftSchnitzel]

I’d like to see ole Dave Doeren wiggle his way out of this one

[u/ColombianInIowa24]

I didn't think it was possible to top Georgia Tech vs Miami in the stupid ways to lose, but this takes the cake for sure.

[u/high_on_meh]

Can a man's psyche ever recover from something like this? I'm genuinely concerned.

[u/Waste_Leading4078]

I've never seen anything like it

[u/garrathian92]

Alright nc state you need to fire Doeren now, just to give your fans something to feel

[u/crabmanactual]

Just hang up your cleats and find a new path in life after that shit

[u/Spiritual_Bottle_650]

Absolutely fucking mind blowing

[u/RugbyDore]

Oh my god. We should not have won this game by any measure. This is just pure insanity

[u/Intelligent_Dress347]

I’ll be fading NC State the rest of the year. No team recovers from that. 

Holy shit.

[u/Double_Swordfish_668]

It is so weird seeing Vanderbilt not be the team doing stupid shit.

[u/red_firetruck]

This is worse than trouble with the snap. You're up 3, just step out and take the safety with 0:00 on the board.

[u/IsolatedMind96]

This is the dumbest play I’ve ever seen called.
Everyone dogged on Miami when they ran the ball and fumbled it against Ga Tech instead of kneeling. Which Miami deserved but this is without a doubt the dumbest play in CFB history.

Just go ahead and fire Doeren. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.