A brutal offensive pass interference call against Clemson ruined the national title game

The NCAA has taken a page out of the NFL’s book in the national championship game, as the refs have been very far from even mediocre in the Clemson-LSU game.

And a crucial call in the fourth quarter was just the cherry on top as an offensive pass interference call against Clemson took away a touchdown that would have made it a 7-point game with over 11 minutes to go.

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins was called for offensive PI, but it looked like LSU safety Kary Vincent initiated the contact and the play should have stood. Instead, Clemson got hit with a 15-yard penalty and punted four plays later and the game was basically over.

Check out this play:

“offensive pass interference” in the National Championship pic.twitter.com/5Lt9WButT3

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 14, 2020

Come on, really?

Twitter couldn’t believe it:

Offensive PI.

This is the National Championship. pic.twitter.com/RCaaKm4GXa

— The Champion Picks (@ChampionPicks) January 14, 2020

That wasn't offensive PI.
That also wasn't defensive PI.

After investing 4 hours in a game, kind of knew the refs would blow the crucial call.

Note how Herbie & Fowler ain't said nothing.

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 14, 2020

James Harden level flop from #5 on LSU to draw that offensive PI

— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) January 14, 2020

That is going to get swept under the rug from a phenomenal performance from Burrow and LSU but that is one of the worst offensive PI calls I've ever seen

— Michael Vaughn (@Michael__Vaughn) January 14, 2020

That is the worst offensive PI you will see called. These officials have been lost all night. They have dictated some of this game. Very unfortunate.

— Alan Verlander (@AlanVerlander) January 14, 2020

Not sure how that is offensive PI. But I long ago stopped trying to make sense of the arbitrary nature of these penalties. #Denver7

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) January 14, 2020

LSU got lucky with that call. They were hand fighting and that should not have been offensive PI.

— Jimmy D Smith (@JimmyDetail) January 14, 2020

HORRIBLE offensive pass interference call. Both guys were all over each other and then the defender grabbed the WRs jersey….but the WR gets PI??!! Wow smh. Alright, give it to LSU I guess smh.

— Eric (@DerdniK) January 14, 2020