Kirby Smart reacts to controversial fumble on Auburn goal line, impact on momentum

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry was full of controversy this season, particularly as it related to how the game was officiated. Of several moments that came into question, one seemed to swing the game entirely. That’s when it was ruled Auburn fumbled on the goal line instead of scoring a touchdown.

After the game, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart addressed the play. The Bulldogs had contended at the time that it should have been a touchdown recovery on the fumble going the other way. Instead, they got the ball on their own one-yard line. That came, apparently, without any explanation to Smart from the officials.

“I never got an explanation,” Kirby Smart said. “Of course, it took the longest I’ve ever seen. All I was told was someone saw a clear recovery, but they said he was down. I still don’t know he was down. The official said that he was down. Not the official that watched it, a different official said that he was down when his back was over the guy’s legs.”

On the play, Auburn had just inches to go before scoring and lined up for a quarterback sneak. Jackson Arnold took the ball and tried to power over the pile for a score. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Kyron Jones ended up running the other way with the ball. That was something the officials didn’t immediately notice, and Kirby Smart would point out to them. Of course, that’s a moot point if the ball crossed the goal line in Arnold’s possession.

For many watching, it looked as though Arnold had broken the plane of the goal line. That should, automatically, end the play and would have made it a three-score game in Auburn’s favor. However, they ruled a fumble and clear recovery by Georgia, with Drones being down on the ground.

“I saw the ball from the sideline jostle out. I couldn’t tell if it was across the line or not,” Smart said. “But I didn’t know who got it. Then Kyron popped up with it way downfield. There was no explanation.”

The play ended up being massive. Auburn wouldn’t score again for the rest of the game, and Georgia only got to 20 points. They did so late in the fourth quarter, meaning this game likely would have played out differently in the final stretch of the game.

ESPN broadcast baffled by SEC officials’ decision to uphold fumble call, erase Auburn TD

The play on the goal line was immediately controversial. Even the broadcast was openly confused by the decision to take away a touchdown from Auburn and give Georgia a fumble recovery. That included play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough, who seemed baffled.

“I have no idea what they were looking at,” Sean McDonough said. “All three of us thought that shot down the line where you can see the ball, especially when you sync it up from the other side with the top of his body, he still has the ball. The hand bats it away, then from the other replay that we saw from down the line, the ball’s across the line when the hand makes contact with the ball to punch it out.”

McDonough wasn’t alone. Analyst Greg McElroy and rules expert Matt Austin agreed it should have been a touchdown. Of course, ultimately what matters is what the referees saw, and they saw a fumble. Now, both teams need to move on. Georgia is set to host Ole Miss next week. Then, Auburn will be hosting Missouri.