Yes, the controversial defensive holding call during the 2024 BYU-Utah game was deemed correct by the Big 12 Conference. Greg Burks, the Big 12’s coordinator of officials, confirmed that Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn committed a holding penalty on BYU receiver JoJo Phillips during a critical fourth-down play late in the game. This penalty extended BYU’s drive, ultimately leading to a game-winning field goal .
The call sparked significant controversy, with Utah athletic director Mark Harlan expressing strong dissatisfaction, stating the game was “stolen” from Utah. His actions, including confronting officials on the field and making critical post-game comments, resulted in a $40,000 fine from the Big 12 .
Despite the backlash, the Big 12 stood by the officials’ decision, emphasizing that the holding penalty was consistent with the rules and appropriately enforced.
