Officiating crew mistake allows for back-to-back fourth down tries late in ACC game

Pitt and Virginia were facing off in a tightly contested ACC contest on Saturday late in the fourth quarter when UVA decided to go it on fourth down.

With just over six minutes left, on their own 36-yard line, holding onto a narrow 21-19 lead Tony Elliott and the Cavaliers decided to roll the dice.

In what can only be described as an obvious "Tush-Push" formation.

But look closely at the video just before the snap, and you'll notice an official in the backfield of the formation.

Pitt stuffed the play, but as the Panther sideline celebrated, there was no signal from an official on the field pointing to Pitt taking over possession.

That's because something is about to be said that you've likely never heard before.

"The officials were not in position for the previous play, therefore it is a replay of fourth down," the head official explained shortly after the previous play was blown dead.

Pat Narduzzi's face when the head official came to the sideline to explain was complete bafflement. 

So, in what can only be described as a totally bizarre circumstance, Virginia was allowed another crack at the fourth down try.

This time, they utlized a wrinkle to a similar formation, ran off tackle, and got the first down easily.

"They got five downs. I haven't seen that many times in my career," Narduzzi shared of the big break for UVA after the game.

In a weekend where officials were criticized in games involving Utah and BYU, Colorado and Texas Tech, and Oregon State and San Jose State where fines and public reprimands were dished out like Halloween candy in a busy suburb, there's been no comments to speak of about this mismanagement by ACC officials.

UVA would hold on to win 24-19 to improve to 5-4 on the year, while the loss dropped Pitt to 7-2 with their second-straight loss.

Take a look at the situation in the clip.

Update >> The ACC has reached out to FootballScoop with the following statement:

Prior to completion of the substitution process, the ball was improperly snapped before the officials were in position to officiate. There is no foul, the play clock is set to 25 seconds and the clock starts on the ready-for-play signal.