I haven't seen a coach use on in years, feels like. Are these still a thing? Elko could have thrown a red flag, several times today!

I was surprised myself we didn't challenge the interception

I am like you and wondering if I missed something

Was it an interception. I couldn't tell at the game

On the one replay that they showed it looked like there was enough to overturn it.

I get why the referee called it the way he did. But with the benefit of replay it sure looked like when they hit the ground our guy had the ball. The Auburn kid never had it.

From ChatGPT:
Yes in college football, coaches can still challenge plays, but the system works a little differently than the NFL.

• Coach's Challenges: Each team gets one challenge per game. If the coach is correct, they keep that challenge (so they can challenge again). If they're wrong, they lose a timeout.
• Automatic Reviews: All scoring plays, turnovers, and certain close calls (like targeting) are automatically reviewed, so coaches don't need to challenge those.
• Inside 2 Minutes / Overtime: Coaches cannot challenge in the final two minutes of each half or during overtime only the replay booth can initiate reviews then.

Adding:
Non-reviewable plays
Certain calls are considered judgment calls and are not subject to challenge:

• Holding (offensive or defensive)
• Pass interference (offensive or defensive)
• Illegal contact, block in the back, roughing the passer, etc. (unless the flag involves targeting, which is reviewable)
• Spot fouls for personal fouls like facemasks or late hits

Plays limited to replay review
Replay officials (or a coach's challenge) can only look at specific, factual aspects:

• Whether a player was in bounds or out of bounds
• Possession of the football (catch/no catch, fumble, interception)
• Scoring plays (crossing the goal line, breaking the plane)
• Timing issues (whether time expired before the snap, game clock errors)
• Number of players on the field
• Targeting fouls (to confirm or overturn)

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My take: Elko and most coaches are scared to lose a timeout if they are wrong. They are relying on the automatic booth review. And all the controversial judgment calls are not reviewable.

The interception was almost definitely to be considered simultaneousl catch, which would be offense's ball. We would have lost a timeout

Good call and understood.

Rule 12-5-1-b:

Quote:

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b. The head coach of either team may request that the game be stopped and a play be reviewed by challenging the on-field ruling.
1. A head coach initiates this challenge by taking a team timeout before the ball is next legally put in play (Exception: Rule 12-3-6-e) and informing the referee that they are challenging the ruling of the previous play. If a head coach's challenge is successful, they retain the challenge, which may be used only once more during the game. Thus, a coach may have a total of two challenges if and only if the initial challenge is successful.
2. After a review has been completed, if the on-field ruling is overturned, that team's timeout will not be charged.
3. After a review has been completed, and the on-field ruling is not overturned, the charged team timeout counts as one of the three permitted that team for that half or the one permitted in that extra period.
4. A head coach may not challenge a ruling in which the game was stopped and a decision has already been made by the replay official. However, a head coach may challenge an aspect of the same play if that component of the play was not considered by the replay official as part of the initial review.
5. If a head coach requests a team timeout to challenge an on-field ruling and the play being challenged is not reviewable, the timeout shall count as one of the three permitted team timeouts during that half of the game or the one permitted in that extra period.
6. A head coach may not challenge an on-field ruling if the team timeouts are not available or have been exhausted for that half or in that extra period.

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The interception/catch was very similar to the play we had against Missouri last year. It would have been ruled a catch by the receiver.