In a scene reminiscent of a premature victory parade, Arizona State fans stormed the field with one second still on the clock, nearly giving BYU a last-minute shot at glory—thankfully ending in a Hail Mary of disappointment.

In a classic case of 'whoops,' Arizona State fans celebrated what they thought was a hard-fought victory over BYU, only to delay the end of the game by storming the field with a whole second left on the clock. While ASU secured a 28-23 win, advancing their hopes for the Big 12 championship, fans and coaches alike were left temporarily dazed by the blunder—especially as BYU cobbled together a last-ditch effort that ended just shy of the goal line. You know it’s a great game when the real competition is between the fans and the game clock.

The atmosphere at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, was electric as the game approached its conclusion. Fans adorned in maroon and gold were buzzing with anticipation, believing that Arizona State had officially clinched victory. However, this fever-pitched excitement took a turn for the absurd when, inspired by either enthusiasm or a poor grasp of time management, hordes of ASU supporters decided that the game was over long before the final whistle had blown.

With one solitary second still remaining, the field transformed from a battleground of strategy and skill to a celebratory canvas of exuberance. Arizona State fans stormed the field prematurely, believing the game had ended. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, who had just thrown a pass out of bounds to stop the clock, must have felt like a character in a sitcom as the jubilant throngs rushed onto the turf.

This spontaneous eruption of fans led to an unscheduled delay of around 15 minutes—a length of time that felt more akin to waiting for a kettle to boil than a high-stakes football game. During this interval, many players simply stood on the sidelines, contemplating their life choices and whether or not they should have just played a round of golf instead; at least it would have been less chaotic.

Meanwhile, on the BYU sideline, they were faced with that ever-so-fleeting reality of a last-minute opportunity. Once the field was cleared, the Cougars trotted back out for their own shot at glory with the clock reading a precarious one second. Hail Mary plays often deliver drama, and in this case, it was surrounded by the absurdity that their opponent's fans had already begun their celebrations—a fitting backdrop for a play that ended with an incomplete pass spotted not far from the goal line, leaving the fans to ponder what had just transpired.

After the game, Arizona State's coach Kenny Dillingham found himself in a heated debate with referees, adamant that the game was over. One can only imagine the frustration pervading his mind, battling the reality that he had just won a game while scrambling to assure his side that yes, the game clock still had a second left, but apparently so did his team’s need for some logical oversight from their devoted supporters.

In the aftermath, Arizona State could breathe a deep sigh of relief. They had indeed triumphed, improving to a 6-2 record in Big 12 play—a significant boost for their aspirations of qualifying for the forthcoming championship game. However, lingering in the back of their minds was the question: What would’ve happened if BYU had connected on that final play? A simple answer arises: perhaps a well-funded class on basic time management for future field stormers could help avoid such heart-pounding mishaps in the future.

In the end, while the ASU players hugged, high-fived, and posed for photos, the game will likely be remembered not only for a score that dashed BYU’s hopes but also for the moment when Arizona State fans stormed the field prematurely, believing the game had ended. With one second left on the clock, the incident prompted laughter and disbelief through the annals of college football lore.