Greg Sankey points out SEC officials mistake, contacted Georgia AD over Kirby Smart shoving Michael Van Buren

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey spoke to Georgia athletic director Josh Brook this week “to make clear” that Kirby Smart’s shove of Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren was not acceptable, he said in Austin ahead of the Texas-Georgia game, according to The Athletic’s Seth Emerson.

Smart was not assessed a penalty for his actions last Saturday, and apparently moved quickly on Sunday to speak with Van Buren and Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby and apologize. Sankey also said in Austin that he didn’t think Smart intentionally shoved Van Buren.

Even still, Sankey made clear that the officials erred in not calling a flag on Smart in that moment.

“I don’t think there was any intent that I could tell, his focus was someplace else. That’s not to defend actions. … You look and we’ve got officials trying to manage a game so they didn’t see it. But I think that’s an appropriate game penalty,” Sankey said.

Georgia and Texas kick off at 7:30 p.m. EST with the game airing on ABC.

A new SEC officiating controversy arose on Saturday

An officiating controversy unlike many in recent memory struck at a pivotal junction in the Georgia-Texas showdown on Saturday night. Hanging in the balance? A red zone possession for the Longhorns, trailing by two scores at home.

With Georgia in possession late in the third quarter, Carson Beck targeted wideout Arian Smith down the left sideline. Smith had made contact and turned inside while defender Jahdae Barron held his ground. There was contact from both parties, and the bail sailed into Barron’s arms before he returned it inside the 10.

But a flag was down: Defensive pass interference on Barron.

Pass interference called on Texas pic.twitter.com/GFGeWZXeCq

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 20, 2024

The call immediately drew the ire of Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and the approval of Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart. Fans hurled debris on the field.

And then, after a lengthy discussion — in part allowed by the delay cause by fans throwing debris on the field — the roles were reversed as the officials announced there was, actually, no penalty on the play.

Sark out there telling fan to stop throwing crap on the field pic.twitter.com/57bGZKhAhE

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) October 20, 2024

Shortly after, Texas scored a touchdown to cut the lead to one score.

Georgia ultimately won, 30-15.