The Auburn Tigers are hosting Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs today, and currently, Auburn is leading 10-3 at halftime. However, this isn’t the full picture, and if not for a controversial officiating call, the Tigers would have had 7 extra points. Tempers have flared now at the Jordan-Hare Stadium, and calls are mounting against the officials after the decision.

On 3rd and goal, Auburn was just inches away from Georgia’s end zone with 1:39 left before halftime. The snap was called, and Auburn stacked the box in a rushing pile to gain those few inches against the defense’s blitz. For a moment, it looked like Auburn finally got their 6 points and were about to line up for the field goal. Except, a UGA player ran the ball back to Auburn’s endzone, creating an ensuing chaos for everyone involved. A fumble ruling was made on the field, then, and was reviewed quickly.

After further review by the officials, including the in-game referee, the fumble call was upheld. But people are now touting excerpts from the review footage that allegedly show that Auburn crossed the endzone. “SEC officials just made the most egregious replay call in history in this Auburn-Georgia game,” wrote FOX Sports’ RJ Young on his X account.  This isn’t the first time, however, such an instance has happened.

Just recently, against Oklahoma, Auburn fell 17-24, and the officials failed to identify a hideout tactic. Oklahoma took a 10-3 lead after John Mateer’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna as 10:45 minutes remained in the second quarter. However, before the snap was called, Sategna had moved towards sidelining, appearing to feign a substitution. However, the officials didn’t take a further review, questioning the whole officiating in the game. Now calls are mounting against the SEC officials for repeated mistakes.

Currently, in the fourth quarter, Auburn is trailing 10-13, and now many wonder what those 7 points would have made. After the final review, Hugh Freeze was visibly furious, throwing his headset in anguish. Later in the second half, Freeze said he “had no clue” but still praised his team for the hard work they had put in. But on the internet, the verdict has already been handed out about the officiating ‘fumble’ call.

Calls mount against SEC officiating after the Auburn-Georgia controversial call

“@GregSankey, you and the whole officiating crew in the Auburn v Georgia game should be fired and never allowed to call another game. @SECOfficiating is the worst in all of sports. You have no shame and no accountability,” wrote a user on X. While another user pointed out it was a UGA TD instead, as a UGA player ran back in the Auburn endzone. But still criticized the officiating nonetheless. “If it wasn’t an Auburn TD, then it should have been a Georgia TD. Either way, the officiating is atrocious,” wrote the user.

While the fumble call can be said to be going either way because of very fine margins. However, the “hideout tactic” against Oklahoma was starkly visible, and yet the SEC officials didn’t take any action. For context, the NCAA’s rule G-2, Article 2 mentions it explicitly, terming it to be an unfair tactic. “No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents,” reads the rule. And because of that, fan frustration is showing!!

“I’m going to sound like someone who complains about officiating. But I’m complaining about the officiating that has gone on today in college football. It’s all been smelly and suspect. Go on and tell me I complain about the refs. But if you actually watched, you will agree,” said another user on X. While another user pointed out the wrong officiating throughout the game.

“What the h–l are the refs in this Auburn-Georgia game on? Said kicking team and moved Auburn back. I’m so confused. Also definitely wasn’t a fumble at the goal line. They are getting absolutely robbed,” wrote the user. Notably, questions are also getting raised on Georgia retaining a timeout in a crucial play when the clock snapped clearly ended on the snap. Even Hugh Freeze highlighted the timeout issues.

“There’s more stoppages, more — that may be the longest half of football ever. I don’t know how many timeouts Georgia got with all the stoppage,” said Hugh Freeze at halftime. Another user then pointed out how the score could have been 17-0 and how the officials were booed on the field. “It could easily be 17-0 right now as the officials get booed off the field,” wrote the user. The SEC did apologize after the Oklahoma game, and we could see it doing the same after the Auburn game.

However, that won’t help Auburn, which has very much lost the game and could have benefited from the 7 points. That said, these calls are also a part of the game, and Georgia, on the other hand, has defended really well, making things worse for Auburn.