Mizzou facemask penalty draws criticism, renews SEC officiating discussion

The Missouri-Arkansas game got heated this afternoon, with Missouri star running back Tyler Badie grabbing the facemask of Arkansas defensive back Myles Slusher as both players were going out of bounds. The play drew criticism for the SEC officiating crew.

Badie clearly yanked Slusher’s facemask as both players were already well out of bounds, sending Slusher tumbling onto the chairs on the Missouri sideline. Badie was only assessed a 15-yard personal foul facemask penalty on the play, which plenty of Arkansas fans would argue was not nearly enough.

Below is a tweet from Jonathan Acosta after the play happened.

Yeah, Hogs crowd deservedly upset at that play from Tyler Badie.

A clear yank of the facemask and that has Mizzou walking back. #WPS

— Jonathan Acosta (@_jacosta) November 26, 2021

An ejection would have been more fitting, especially since both players were well out of bounds and Badie’s yank of Slusher’s facemask sent him into a bunch of chairs.

It was clearly an intentional yank of the facemask and he also put Slusher in even more danger by sending him into all the objects on the Missouri sideline. Badie is lucky that Slusher wasn’t seriously injured.

SEC officiating on this play

It’s a fine balancing act because fans don’t want to go to a game and see every play get reviewed, but a serious play such as this one should be reviewed and thoroughly looked at by SEC officials. Ejections in football should be incredibly rare, but when a player maliciously grabs another players facemask while already out of bounds, sending him into a variety of objects, that’s where officials need to step in.

Tyler Badie with another amazing half of football

Outside of his facemask yank, Badie was gashing the Arkansas defenders in the first half, rushing for 117 yards for Missouri. He’s one of the most underrated running backs in America and he continues to prove that week in, week out.

He’s not far from becoming Missouri’s all-time rushing leader for a single season.

Check out the graphic below that was designed before the Missouri-Arkansas game.

Tyler Badie climbed to #3 all-time on Missouri's Single-Season rushing yards leaderboard. He is now 21 yards from the #2 spot, and 193 yards from being Mizzou's All-Time Single-Season rushing leader!!! #MIZ pic.twitter.com/hA8a6aKtku

— The Mizzodcast (@mizzodcast) November 22, 2021

He’s had an incredible season, especially considering he’s done it in the SEC.