Official miscommunication cause Alabama to run QB sneak on first down, leads to field goal

When Will Reicherd hit a field goal in the third quarter to go up 9-7 on Ole Miss, the Alabama sideline was not too pleased. For a moment, it seems as if Nick Saban sent his kicker out there on third down. Everyone inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, except the officials, thought the Crimson Tide had another chance inside the red zone.

Apparently, there was some miscommunication about what down it was between the officials and everyone else on the field. When Jalen Milroe attempted a sneak on what he thought was 3rd and Inches, it was actually a first down. Two plays later, Alabama was kicking the field goal but it was, in fact, fourth down.

When Milroe was walking off the field, he was looking at Saban, explaining how he thought they just played second down. Saban was on his side, asking the referee what the deal was.

CBS’ Gene Steratore explained the entire situation after reviewing the footage, saying the down box indicator was wrong on the quarterback sneak play. They listed it as a third-down while in reality, it was a first-down.

“When it was second down and 16, the five-yard gain from Alabama at the 11-yard line was really a first down,” Steratore said. “The down box indicator moving near that stake showing third, it was actually first. And that is what upset Coach Saban, naturally.

“He thought he had 3rd and Inches when he ran the quarterback sneak. It was really a first down and 10 from the 11 when they ran the sneak. So, they missed that down there as far as the communication of what down that was.”

No matter what wound up happening, the SEC offices in Birmingham are likely going to have some questions in front of them. Saban is definitely going to want an explanation, no matter the result of the game.

Alabama will be thankful, at least for the time being, that the situation did not come back to bite them. Reichard was able to make the field goal attempt and give the Crimson Tide a lead. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart wound up throwing an interception on the next drive as well.

Either way, a confusing situation unfolded in Tuscaloosa. The SEC will not want something similar to unfold moving forward. Games can be decided by just the smallest mistakes from an officiating end. Confusing what down should be shown is ideally not one of them.