BYU Scores on Tank Formation in 27-20 Win
Officials erroneously awarded BYU a touchdown after two reviews, the Big 12 said, following a fumbled snap in the Cougars' victory over Arizona State.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
BYU beat Arizona State 27-20 on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Running back Sione Moa recovered a fumbled snap and ran it into the end zone, and the Big 12 later said officials erroneously awarded the touchdown after two reviews.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights how officiating decisions can shape a game's outcome. The touchdown came from a formation BYU has leaned on as a scoring tool this season.
The Tank formation places seven to nine offensive linemen on the field at once, with two to four of them in the backfield. The Big 12 has acknowledged the officiating error but the stub does not say whether it will alter the result.
The players
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 is a major college athletic conference that oversees officiating standards for its member schools.
TJ Woods
TJ Woods is a BYU offensive coordinator who installed the Tank formation after arriving from Georgia Southern in 2024.
Sione Moa
Sione Moa is a BYU running back who recovered the fumbled snap and scored the touchdown.
The details
Officials did not review Bear Bachmeier's first-and-goal quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line, and he fumbled the snap on second down. Running back Sione Moa picked up the loose ball and scored, a play the Big 12 later said was erroneously awarded after two reviews.
Timeline
Saturday: BYU beat Arizona State 27-20 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The previous week: BYU scored a touchdown with the Tank formation at UCF.
Saturday, 10 a.m.: BYU faces No. 3 Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Season Trajectory
BYU's use of the Tank formation, which TJ Woods installed in 2024 and which has grown from seven to nine linemen this year, has become a notable part of its offensive identity. The formation's scoring success against UCF and the disputed touchdown here both shape how opponents may prepare for the Cougars as they face No. 3 Utah.
Fantasy and game-day viewers following BYU should note that the team's Tank formation may or may not appear against Utah, which remains unclear. The Big 12's acknowledgment of the erroneous touchdown call is the concrete fact fans can track going into the matchup.
The takeaway
Officiating mistakes can be costly even when a team executes well, and BYU's touchdown is a reminder that replay review depends on accurate application. Watch whether the Tank formation returns against Utah.
What happens next
BYU faces No. 3 Utah on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, televised on ABC.
Further reading
For more on college game-day strategy, see Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deseret News.
