In competition, rules are important. They are implemented to serve as guidelines and keep things fair. But when the rules stink, it’s hard to be OK with the results that follow, which is exactly what happened during a break from Saturday’s SEC championship game.
Of course, we’re not talking about the actual football game itself. Rather, Dr. Pepper’s tuition toss that occurred during.
For those unfamiliar, the tuition competition is when two students take the field to compete for a chance to win college tuition money. They throw as many footballs as they can into a bin, and whoever has the most when the clock hits zero wins.
Saturday’s toss started off being fun but had an underwhelming conclusion.
The original football toss-off ended in a tie, thus leading to an overtime round where, again, a tie. But instead of going to another overtime, a strange and concise rule explanation left one student as the prize winner and the other empty-handed.
Even in the Dr. Pepper toss challenge the overtime rules suck
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 3, 2022
That’s it, Dr. Pepper? No further explanation? What even was the tiebreaker that was said to have taken place the day prior?
As you would imagine, the vague explanation and very rapid conclusion did not sit well with college football fans.
UPDATE: They both won!
$100K for two worthy competitors.
After a double tie in the @drpepper Tuition Toss, Kayla Gibson and Reagan Whitaker are both awarded the top prize. pic.twitter.com/ujijGc4sje
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 4, 2022
Fans voiced their displeasure on Twitter.
NO DOUBLE OT in the Dr. Pepper Challenge?! What is this?!
— Jake Marsh (@PMTsportsbiz) December 3, 2022
THEY HAVE A “TIEBREAKER” INSTEAD OF DOUBLE OT RULES???
Explain yourselves @drpepper https://t.co/lYERj3t4a9
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 3, 2022
Give them both the money you cowards @drpepper
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) December 3, 2022
“Because she won the tie-breaker challenge yesterday” ?!?!?! in the Dr Pepper Challenge. BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! We didn’t know anything about a tie-breaker challenge!! PLAY IT OUT!!!
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) December 3, 2022
We need to address the Dr. Pepper overtime rules in the off-season.
— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) December 3, 2022
Dr. Pepper pitting two college students against each other on national TV with a tuition prize is so depressing every time. That company is worth 55 billion dollars
— Theo Ash 🇺🇸 (@TheoAshNFL) December 3, 2022
Come on, @drpepper! Both of those ladies deserve the $100k!!
Plus, if Reagan won the "tiebreaker challenge" yesterday, why was there need for "overtime" today??#DrPepperChallenge #DrPepper
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) December 3, 2022
Dr Pepper has more controversial overtime rules than the NFL
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) December 3, 2022
The fans booing because both rounds end in a tie and there was a tie breaker challenge yesterday we know nothing about! #DrPepper
— Jimmy Beck (@theJBECK) December 3, 2022
Nah… Go to a third overtime. I call baloney on the Dr. Pepper challenge.
— Jeremy Johnson (@JeremyO_Johnson) December 3, 2022
WHAT IS THIS DR PEPPER TIE BREAKER NONSENSE WE ARE A COUNTRY OF RULES AND 23 FLAVORS
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 3, 2022
listen, the SEC championship isn't going to get competitive in the second half, let them sort out the Dr. Pepper Tuition Toss tie no matter how long it takes
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 3, 2022
Wait, what??? They aren't going to sudden death in the Dr. Pepper chest pass game?
Robbed.
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) December 3, 2022
Can someone on the broadcast explain what the pre-event tiebreaker rules were for the Dr. Pepper tuition toss?
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) December 3, 2022
The fact they let the Dr. Pepper Challenge end in a tie is the worst thing I've ever seen #JusticeforKayla pic.twitter.com/ABvTLmTsZn
— br_betting (@br_betting) December 3, 2022
