Things didn’t go well Saturday for Texas A&M in its 26-20 home loss to No. 11 Alabama, and fans on Twitter (now X), were particularly furious with the officiating.
Of course, that’s nothing new in college football. People are mad at referees all the time, though it’s usually for something like a questionable call. Saturday, however, it was for literally being in the Aggies’ way.
To start the fourth quarter as the Crimson Tide had a 24-17, Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson tried to hit wide receiver Evan Stewart on second-and-6 from the Alabama 45-yard line for what would have been a needed first down. Unfortunately for the Aggies, Stewart couldn’t make the catch — no doubt in large part because an official was standing perfectly in the way. And didn’t move.
Perhaps this official could use a little more situational awareness…
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 7, 2023
RELATED: Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos ran into a referee and got absolutely flattened
Johnson followed that play up with another incomplete pass, and Texas A&M had to punt on the drive.
Unsurprisingly, Aggies fans were not happy, and some thought Texas A&M should have been compensated with an extra down. But it could also just be considered a bad bounce that’s part of the game.
Here's how college football fans reacted on Twitter to the play:
like what? https://t.co/vGM9oKE15P
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) October 7, 2023
Ump had Alabama -2. https://t.co/UPIvE2MRaG
— Anthony Andro (@aandro) October 7, 2023
why the refs playing such good defense today 😂 pic.twitter.com/ENxUQFgnQf
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) October 7, 2023
Texas A & M just had a referee get in the middle of them converting a first down lmfao. Alabama got refs playing defense.
— Mr. Ray (1-3) 🐅 (5-0) 🔴 ⚪️ (@MRaygunz) October 7, 2023
Great defense by the ref on this play. https://t.co/n0mEUWVsIY
— Chris Hilling (@cityonahilling) October 7, 2023
— chartreuse wahoo (@chartreusewahoo) October 7, 2023
Oh look a referee standing in the way my God Alabama gets EVERY break
— Kasey Ray (@kaseyray11) October 7, 2023
SEC refs going full Mask Off. https://t.co/oKPSGRJkT5 pic.twitter.com/L56SahLJn8
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 7, 2023
The referee literally just ran into the WR and broke up a wide open pass, thus bailing out Alabama. I guess there's always a team in every league that gets the Kansas City Chiefs treatment. #BAMAvsTAMU #SEConCBS
— Sam Roberts (@RealSamRoberts) October 7, 2023
Damn, refs aren’t even trying to hide it anymore https://t.co/zvpW8Qqe7D
— Steve (walrus.bsky.social) (@_walrus) October 7, 2023
How is this not a repeat down, literally bull https://t.co/D4sLZU2ZsI
— IceBorg (@IceBorgRevived) October 7, 2023
I’m convinced that this game is cursed https://t.co/n2JtXFGeLt
— Asher Crohn (@asherc10) October 7, 2023
Referee is considered part of the field, that receiver should’ve clocked his ass to catch the ball!#Alabama #TAMU
— (((Gonzo)))HSinsider (@303Gonzo) October 7, 2023
The umpires strike back https://t.co/hMfXS6wBHe https://t.co/2uLl1Xw7DJ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 7, 2023
12 men on the field, defense… https://t.co/soscnI12hE
— Chris Reid (@creid528) October 7, 2023
UNREAL that this can just happen https://t.co/kEntQhVsci
— Camille Bose 🌻🇺🇦 (@camille_bose1) October 7, 2023
