Just when you thought things might be turning around for the Gophers. . .
Linebacker Gary Tinsley made a very good read on a play by the Boilermakers, and intercepted a wide receiver screen pass with nothing but open field in front of him. As he started running the other way and approaching the goal line, Tinsley appeared to try to stretch the ball out for the goal line.
Unfortunately, the ball came out of Tinsley’s hands and hit the pylon at the corner of the end zone.
Because the ball hit the pylon, rather than the Gophers having the ball inside the Purdue 5-yard line. . .or having a touchdown. . .the ruling is a touchback, and Purdue re-takes possession of the ball at their own 20-yard line.