You’d be forgiven if you weren’t tuned into Saturday’s Northwestern-Purdue matchup in West Lafayette. But in case you missed the Big Ten West matchup, it featured one of the most egregious officiating calls we’ve seen all season.
Purdue managed to grab an interception and return it for what looked like a pick-six early in the third quarter, until the touchdown was called back for an unsportsmanlike penalty for… “high-stepping into the end zone.”
On 3rd-and-6 on Northwestern’s own 43, Boilermakers linebacker Jalen Graham picked off Wildcats quarterback Cole Freeman and bolted toward the end zone with wide-open space ahead of him.
But alas, the Big Ten’s officials absurdly decided Graham was having too much fun and celebrated his pick-six too early, dealing him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the spot of the foul
Sooo… Purdue had a pick six erased because LB Jalen Graham was high stepping from the 30 yard line and the refs called him for unsportsmanlike conduct 😭😭
Such a lame call. 👎 pic.twitter.com/RG78iUBnQx
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) November 19, 2022
Purdue interception return for a TD taken off the board, for “high stepping”. Coach Prime would be aghast pic.twitter.com/r96shnUta7
— Chris B. Brown (@smartfootball) November 19, 2022
Come on, this is so ridiculous.
Obviously, college football officials are allowed to dish out penalties for players celebrating too early, but it’s a big-time discretionary call. And in this instance, it seems absolutely laughable to take that discretion this seriously.
Graham didn’t taunt anyone, he didn’t make any gestures at the Wildcats, he didn’t do a cartwheel into the end zone. He was simply too excited with his running, and officials continue penalizing players for enjoying the game they play.
Purdue still ended up winning, 17-9, but that was a joke of a call.
Unsurprisingly, college football fans were outraged:
High stepping penalty? RIDICULOUS!!!! #TDStepping? @BoilerFootball
— 𝒥𝒾𝓂 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓉 (@Jim_Everett) November 19, 2022
Why would high-stepping into the end zone negate a touchdown and be a spot foul? Count the points, give the taunting penalty after the play. Taunting does not effect the actual play that was made.
— Brett Douglas (@BaD0UG) November 19, 2022
So essentially a 35 yard penalty and a subtraction of 6 points. That’s the most severe penalty in football for “high-stepping”
— Elite Purdue Pete (@ElitePurduePete) November 19, 2022
HIGH STEPPING?!?! pic.twitter.com/UW0pAIl7N0
— Boiled Sports (@BoiledSports) November 19, 2022
Unsportsmanlike Conduct is an absolute freaking joke in college football. Purdue gets a 15 yard penalty from the spot and a cancelled Pick 6 for high stepping into the end zone. Absolute bullcrap.
— Justin Soforo (@JustinSoforo) November 19, 2022
WOOOOOOOOOW#Purdue #Pick6 Called back because of "High Stepping" from the 30??????
FREAKIN REALLY??????
Football has turned into some nonsense#B1G #BIG10 SMH
— Bill Kelly (@PlayMakaBK) November 19, 2022
This is about as Purdue of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as it gets. Pick-6 taken off the board for high stepping in field of play. https://t.co/bg2n7GyTdQ
— Eric Dutkiewicz (@EricDoot) November 19, 2022
High-stepping into the end zone penalty, might be the stupidest call I’ve ever seen. Let the dude celebrate a pick six. #boilerup
— Braden E. (@estes_braden) November 19, 2022
I hate the high stepping but that’s a ridiculous penalty to take the @BoilerFootball touchdown off the board. That said, Purdue has had some really dumb unsportsmanlike penalties this season that have cost them dearly.
— Brian Hammons (@BrianHammons) November 19, 2022
We still dealing with high stepping in 2022 ?!?!?!?!#Purdue
— Brandon Reef 🎙 (@BrandonReef) November 19, 2022
lmaooo imagine getting a pick six overturned bc you start high stepping at the 30 yard line
— mollie cahillane (@MollieCahillane) November 19, 2022
High stepping in to the endzone is a spot foul in college lol!?!? What a joke
— Craig Peery PhD (@craigpeery12) November 19, 2022
High Stepping into the end zone is NOT a foul. College football stinks. Let them have fun.
— Nolan (@uncagedbruh) November 19, 2022
It was pretty egregious high-stepping and the look back and you can't make this stuff up.
— Casey Bartley (@CBartleyRivals) November 19, 2022
15 yards and take away the TD for high stepping on a pick six. Such a dumb rule
— Kinger (@ZKinger20) November 19, 2022
It should count for more because the degree of difficulty is higher and they couldn’t stop him even while high stepping. https://t.co/MJQIwVF0Y2
— Justin Cerenzia (@Cerenz) November 19, 2022
