Someone needs to remind the NCAA that college football is a game.

That means the players should be allowed to celebrate a touchdown, especially if it’s a potentially game-tying one.

I happen to think Washington’s Jake Locker is one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the country, but I felt bad for him and his Huskies last weekend.

For a team that is just trying to keep its coach off the hot seat, the Huskies’ chance to upset a ranked BYU team was crushed by a yellow hanky. As a result, the ensuing extra point attempt was 15 yards longer and ended up getting blocked.

Locker didn’t taunt any BYU players when he ran the ball into the end zone to make it a one-point game. He didn’t flash any gang signs. He didn’t gather his team together to do the electric slide.

All he did was toss the ball into the air in jubilation.

No one would have questioned the official if he had kept the flag in his back pocket.

Reach the reporter at gina.mizell@asu.edu.