Arizona State and Morgan State shocked observers when they agreed to cut the fourth quarter of their college football matchup to just 10 minutes, turning a routine contest into a 70‑7 blowout.
A Rare Agreement on the Field
The unusual arrangement is exceedingly rare; fewer than 15 documented instances of shortened quarters have been recorded in the past decade, making this agreement a notable outlier in college football history.
Morgan State’s head coach Damon Wilson initiated the request, while Arizona State’s rookie head coach Kenny Dillingham later admitted he was unaware of any formal NCAA procedure that permits such a mutual adjustment.
According to the NCAA rulebook, game time can only be shortened under specific circumstances such as darkness or interference, not through a mutual agreement between coaching staffs, which underscores the unconventional nature of the decision.
Quarterback Cutter Boley seized the opportunity, delivering a spectacular 387‑yard passing performance with six touchdowns in the first two quarters, a display that helped propel Arizona State to an overwhelming lead.
The episode invites broader discussion about sportsmanship, the flexibility of game regulations, and how coaches might navigate the boundaries of the rulebook in pursuit of a more decisive outcome.