Brian Kelly Comments on Go-Ahead TD Play, Penalty from Notre Dame vs. FSU

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was livid after a controversial offensive pass interference call wiped out the Irish's potential game-winning touchdown in their 31-27 loss Saturday to Florida State. With a day to ruminate and further clarification provided by the officiating crew, reporters asked if he better understood the call Sunday.

Nope.    

Per Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com, Kelly said:

"

Actually I have less clarity. I guess it was actually called on Will Fuller, not C.J. (Prosise). So [it] just adds more uncertainty as to the final play. But again, the play itself, in terms of what we ask our kids to do, it was pretty clear what happened on the play: Florida State blew the coverage and they got rewarded for it. It's unfortunate.

"

Will Fuller was flagged for offensive pass interference on a two-yard pass from Everett Golson to Corey Robinson, which would have given Notre Dame a 33-31 lead with 13 seconds remaining. In real time, the Notre Dame receivers appeared to be running standard pick routes designed to open up Robinson—plays often run and rarely flagged in short-yardage situations.

However, ACC coordinator of football officials Doug Rhoads defended the crew's call Sunday. Rhoads specifically cites the wide receivers blocking downfield on a forward pass as a violation, noting that neither player attempted to run a route.

“Offensive players on passing plays are restricted from going downfield and blocking anytime from the snap,” Rhoads said, per Zach Barnett of College Football Talk. “If the ball is first touched behind the line of scrimmage then that would be legal and it’s okay, but if it’s touched beyond the line then it’s offensive pass interference.”

The resulting 15-yard penalty pushed the Irish to their own 18-yard line, forcing a desperation heave on 4th-and-goal. Golson's pass was subsequently intercepted by linebacker Jacob Pugh, with the Seminoles wrapping up their NCAA-high 23rd straight victory.

Notre Dame's loss dropped the Irish from No. 5 to No. 7 in The Associated Press Poll, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.