Call Mounts Against NCAA Referee as Missed Call Could Threaten Player Safety in Baylor vs Auburn

Refs blew up, and everyone noticed. Under the Friday night lights, Auburn and Baylor battled in a season-opening game filled with storylines: Auburn aiming for its ninth straight Week 1 victory, Dave Aranda’s Bears holding a strong 5-1 record in openers. Both went into the game with excitement, but the Tigers ended up winning it with a 38-24 margin. Sure, it’s a great start for them, but a glaring missed call took center stage. A missed penalty left fans furious, shaking their heads, and the conversation quickly turned from the game’s highlights to the officiating. How could such an obvious error happen?

This game had a classic vibe, with only four previous matchups in almost 70 years before it resurfaced. Auburn won the initial game, but Baylor had the upper hand, winning the last two. Despite that, the odds favored the Tigers. They were 1-point favorites with a -116 money line, compared to Baylor’s -104, and the over/under was 57.5 points. Hugh Freeze’s team didn’t just meet expectations; they exceeded them, continuing Auburn’s streak of season-opening wins. They won, but at what price?

The crowd at McLane Stadium went wild on Saturday when the officials missed what appeared to be a blatant facemask penalty during the Auburn-Baylor game. With 3:05 remaining in the third quarter, Baylor wideout Ashtyn Hawkins caught a 13-yard pass and almost escaped, but Auburn linebacker Demarcus Riddick grabbed his facemask, pulling him down. Despite the Baylor fans’ vocal protests, no flag was thrown, leaving them in disbelief. That’s when Barstool Sports’ Brandon Walker hopped in with his fiery remarks against the referee for ignoring such a blunder. He hit X with a plea and said, “We have to do something about the officiating in college football. How is it even possible to miss this call? What would cause a person to not call this a face mask?”

Even FOX quickly brought in rules analyst Mike Pereira to analyze the play. “[Riddick] had a hand around it. He didn’t actually pull it, but he got underneath, and then he did grab it and pull it. And, yes, that’s one that should’ve been called. Obviously, replay can’t do anything about this, so it’s just a miss that the officials have to live with.” The play, widely circulated on social media, became one of the most talked-about officiating weekend’s most glaring errors. But with those mix-ups, there were moments that proved that Hugh Freeze’s team is here to shine.

Auburn’s running attack was unstoppable, gaining 241 yards by the end of the third quarter, thanks to strong performances from Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb, and Jackson Arnold. On defense, Keyron Crawford led the team with seven tackles, and Xavier Atkins contributed five more, limiting Baylor to only 64 rushing yards and making it a tough day for quarterback Sawyer Robertson.

Then they also excelled in critical situations, displaying impressive poise. Explosive plays, like Rayshawn Pleasant’s 98-yard kickoff return, highlighted Auburn’s potential. Even when Baylor attempted to close the score with scoring drives, Auburn’s offense and defense responded, maintaining control and outperforming the Bears in rushing, scoring at crucial times, and executing under pressure.

But in between all of it, one person outshone everyone…

Jackson Arnold became the ultimate hero of the game

The Auburn-Baylor game began with a charged atmosphere, and Jackson Arnold wasted no time making an impact. On a 12-play, 105-yard drive, Arnold displayed both his passing and running skills, culminating in a 26-yard dash for his first touchdown. This put Auburn up 7-3 and immediately established Arnold as a dual-threat leader, capable of turning crucial drives into momentum-swinging plays.

And ended up the night racking up 137 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 108 passing yards. In a crucial 4th-and-1 situation late in the fourth quarter, Arnold broke off a 27-yard untouched run to widen the lead, which ultimately sealed the victory. Fans both in the stadium and at home were already excited about what the young quarterback could bring to the Tigers’ offense this season.

Arnold’s performance echoed the versatility he showed at Oklahoma in 2024, where he ran for 485 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a notable performance against Alabama. His ability to combine accurate passing with explosive running forces defenses to remain cautious on every play. Auburn had clearly found the spark it needed, with Arnold reading defenses intelligently and exploiting gaps with impressive awareness. The Tigers’ offense seemed revitalized, giving fans hope that the new season could be one of the most exciting in recent history.

Even Hugh Freeze couldn’t hold back his praise for him as he said, “Jackson is a special player. His ability to make plays with his feet and his field vision are exceptional.” That vote showed that the team completely trusted Arnold for the schedule. This success is nothing but a full-circle moment for Arnold, as a guy who was once benched against Tennessee for giving three turnovers is now a leader fueling Auburn’s championship hopes. Auburn fans are already dreaming of a season with exciting wins. With Arnold’s skill, improvisation, and determination, the Tigers might be contenders.