WATCH: SEC officials do not review possible Will Levis targeting call on key fumble vs. Ole Miss

Replay officials in the game between No. 7 Kentucky and No. 14 Ole Miss were slow to review a questionable third-down catch on a Wildcats drive into scoring territory in the second half on Saturday, then decided not to review an even bigger potential targeting call on what may have been the decisive play in the game.

Facing a key third-and-2 from the Ole Miss 19-yard line with his Kentucky team trailing 22-19 and the clock inside of four minutes, quarterback Will Levis kept the ball on a run off the left side of the line.

As he dove forward past the first-down maker, he was struck by Ole Miss safety AJ Finley. Levis fumbled on a subsequent hit and the Rebels recovered with 2:55 to play.

But the initial hit by Finley appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit that should have triggered a replay review.

“Well Ole Miss has the football but maybe they shouldn’t, as we look at this play again when Will Levis ran,” ESPN broadcaster Todd Blackledge said following the change of possession. “This should have been a targeting call. Crown of the helmet right on that ‘K’ on the UK helmet of Will Levis. The next hit cause the fumble but that hit should have been a targeting, right Matt?”

WILL LEVIS FUMBLES! Ole Miss recovers😯

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— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 1, 2022

ESPN brought in rules expect Matt Austin to discuss the call. He agreed with Blackledge’s assessment that the play at least should have been reviewed for a potential targeting call.

“I do, I think he lowered his head and as Todd said, he put the crown of the helmet right on the UK logo,” Austin said. “Should have been looked at.”

No call on possible Will Levis targeting play doesn’t prevent UK from late shot at the win

Instead, Ole Miss took over and attempted to ice the game away on its ensuing drive. The Rebels weren’t able to do so, and the Wildcats got a shot with a drive starting at their own 33-yard line with 1:49 left to play.

Still, Blackledge felt the initial play with the potential Will Levis targeting call should have been reviewed.

“He’s not defenseless, because he’s running, but it was the crown of the helmet that led the contact,” Blackledge said. “And Ole Miss was fortunate they got the football.”

The Wildcats were presumably in makeable field goal range prior to the fumble, though Kentucky had been concerned about its kicker and gone for it in a few spots where a field goal might otherwise have been attempted.

Kicker Matt Ruffolo had already missed a 39-yard field goal attempt and a PAT attempt in the game.

Even after the non-review Kentucky ended up driving the field late in the fourth quarter with a chance to come away with a game-tying field goal or game-winning touchdown, but Levis fumbled again after a hit by Jared Ivey. The Rebels’ Tavius Robinson recovered to seal the 22-19 Ole Miss win.