Referees don’t always get it right. They make questionable calls all the time, leaving fans anywhere between perplexed and irate.
And after Saturday’s Texas-Houston game, college football fans had a lot of questions about where officials spot the ball for the Cougars late in their 31-24 loss to the Longhorns.
With less than 90 seconds to go in the fourth quarter as Texas was up by a touchdown, Houston was on the Longhorns’ 10-yard line on third-and-1. Running back Stacy Sneed got the ball and initially appeared to get to the nine-yard line and grab the first down, just barely.
But after officials spot the ball and brought the chains out, they ruled that Sneed was short. Houston ultimately turned the ball over on downs, and Texas held on for the victory.
Houston was marked short here pic.twitter.com/Cp1JPbyHXC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2023
RELATED: Texas A&M fans were furious after an impeding referee broke up a pass attempt vs. Alabama
Cougars coach Dana Holgorsen on the sideline seemed to have some concerns about the spot. And even the Fox broadcast noted it looked incorrect:
“If the mark is near the 10-yard line, the actual 10, then he was not given credit for all of that run with forward progress.”
College football fans were beyond baffled by the spot, and here’s how they reacted on Twitter (now X):
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 21, 2023
This was all time bad. How was that not reviewed? Complete BS https://t.co/4N6HkNvJN0
— Will West (@WillWestWNML) October 21, 2023
Lmaooo the refs have no choice, how else can they pretend Texas is good??? https://t.co/dczM67fTNB
— Bethany (@whatthatbethdo) October 21, 2023
Absolute horseshit levels of meddling by the Big 12 office. They deserve to have to answer questions. They won't. Get that bag. https://t.co/QjTgbTPpye
— Will Rubin (@WillCRubin) October 21, 2023
THATS JUST RIDICULOUS! WHAT A BS SPOT https://t.co/rHROKXS2D2
— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) October 21, 2023
Horrible spot, these refs made PAC-12 officials look competent https://t.co/MvtY9f3tKg
— Joe Hedberg (@JoeInOregon87) October 21, 2023
Yep. Screwed is accurate. https://t.co/zmU40L9D6w
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 21, 2023
Refs wanted Texas to win. Simple as that. Embarrassing for all Big 12 officials though. https://t.co/o5ByMX0Uf1
— Hunter Mack (@TheMackDaddie) October 21, 2023
This is CRAZY…. refs really been on one today with the spots https://t.co/6yDx56NNTy
— Dan (@dannah__montana) October 21, 2023
What an awful call by the refs to give Texas the game. @UHCougarFB clearly had the 1st down https://t.co/oiTbMR7cRp
— Javi (@_heyjavi) October 21, 2023
This is even worse on replay, my god https://t.co/B6XwksCg2G
— Jenna (@jennakgym) October 21, 2023
"They find a way" https://t.co/ZqvmmX4tmz
— Texas Aggie Meltdown Show (@MeltdownAgs) October 21, 2023
Houston was robbed, this spot was AWFUL!!!! https://t.co/wcwSIbILqw
— Ryan McNamara (@RyanMcNamara7) October 21, 2023
Legitimately inarguably wrong. You can at houston doesn’t score in 4 plays from the 7, you can say the go for 2 and miss, you can say they lose in OT…
But you can’t say they shouldn’t have had the chance https://t.co/DVdRSX1hon
— Parker Ainsworth, Pres. of Parker Jenkins Fan Club (@painsworth512) October 21, 2023
What was this not reviewed?! https://t.co/iFyly988D4
— brent (@bhaydon5) October 21, 2023
This is horrible https://t.co/IwyR0UzKxf
— Zach (@_Pastymilkman) October 21, 2023
