Who says the "No Fun League" is limited to the NFL.
Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham found out the hard way on Saturday that excessive fun will not be tolerated in the Boilermakers' 17-9 victory over Northwestern. He intercepted Wildcats quarterback Cole Freeman at the 50 in the third quarter and began the return down the right sideline. As he was heading down the sideline, seeing a wide-open lane, he began high-stepping from 35 yards out.
But six points and a 20-3 lead wasn't to be: Officials called Graham for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, pulling back the touchdown and setting up Purdue at the Northwestern 35.
Purdue’s Jalen Graham intercepts Cole Freeman and takes it back for an EASY pick six.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 19, 2022
So easy in fact Graham starts high stepping at the 35-yd line.
He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the TD is taken off the board. pic.twitter.com/v8UphZzWJs
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After Graham reached the end zone, the officials called it back for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the official calling it "high stepping into the end zone."
The high-stepping clearly had no impact on the play, but because the penalty was called as the play was unfolding, it was considered a live-ball foul. Under college football rules, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is a spot penalty, meaning it brought possession back 15 yards from where the infraction occurred.
The penalty was costly for the Boilermakers: On the following drive, Purdue went three-and-out and missed a field goal try for 47 yards out.
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Purdue held on to survive the game against Northwestern — though mustering only a field goal the rest of the game — to move to 7-4 and 5-3 in the conference. That keeps them in the lead for the Big Ten West.
