CBS' Gene Steratore says refs should have reviewed key Alabama 4th down catch late in 1st half

With fewer than two minutes to play prior to half time and leading, 10-7, in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, Alabama and head coach Nick Saban opted to be risky facing fourth and short. Just across midfield, the Crimson Tide kept the offense on the field and converted.

But Jalen Milroe’s chunk pass to Isaiah Bond for the conversion appears to have been aided by the ground, thus rendering it incomplete. The play wasn’t reviewed and Alabama scored a touchdown to lead, 17-7, at the break. Coming out of halftime, CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore shared his assessment: The play should’ve at least gotten a second look from officials.

“I think you stop the game at that point, prior to that snap. You then slow this down and take all the angles they give you. … In my opinion, when you have possession this way as you’re going to the ground, if that football hits the ground and moves in any way, in my opinion, the football has aided you in the process of finalizing the catch,” Steratore said.

The play was ultimately a massive swing. The Crimson Tide of course kept the drive alive and scored, and it limited the chances of Georgia responding. The Bulldogs ran out the clock before the break, receiving it to start the second half.

Steratore also explained how a potential review might be missed by officials.

“In these situations, fourth and four, clock’s running, you see live action. Replay officials are no different, really, guys than officials on the field. In those situations, with clocks running and things moving so fast, team coming up to snap the football, a replay official has to feel in real-time that there’s a potential that this may be something,” Steratore said.

Milroe needed to settle in after a shaky start

For Milroe, it’s his first appearance in this magnitude of a game and Nick Saban believes there might be some early anxiety.

Alabama did not throw the ball particularly well in the first quarter, with Milroe missing a couple of shots downfield. Saban is looking for him to go through reads and settle into the game a little better.

“I think you just go to read it out,” Saban said when talking to CBS’ Jenny Dell. “I think a couple of times, he had guys. Just didn’t throw the ball on time, he didn’t do it. Just need to straighten it out. A little anxiety, maybe, about what’s going on here.

“Same thing on defense on the first drive. Couple of mental errors on the formation adjustment. Just got to settle down and play.”