Ranking 10 worst officiating calls of 2024 college football season
Coaches have been outspoken about missed penalties and controversial calls through the first nine weeks of the college football season. With conference-based officiating, scrutiny has ramped up this season.
On3 asked college football fans on X to share their opinions and examples on the worst officiating calls of the 2024 season. We received over 250 comments and ranked the 10 worst calls to date, focusing specifically on decisions that impacted the outcome of games.
“I watched games today and it was like, crazy, we’re higher than we’ve been (with penalties), I watch all these games and they’re higher than they’ve ever been,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in September. “I’m like what’s going on? We’ve never — we’ve been a low-penalty, smart team and I can’t figure it out. I don’t know if it’s the way it’s being called higher, is it being called tighter? Because everybody’s got more. We’ve got to reel it in some.”
Here are the top 10 worst officiating calls of the college football season:
10. Jeremiah Smith called for pass interference
On the final drive of Ohio State’s top-five matchup at Oregon, Buckeyes true freshman Jeremiah Smith sensation was called for offensive pass interference. With quarterback Will Howard trying to engineer a game-winning drive, Smith worked to get open on a 2nd-and-10 from the Ducks’ 28.
The former Five-Star Plus+ recruit was called for offensive pass interference for pushing off Oregon cornerback Nikko Reed. The call moved Ohio State backward 15 yards to the Oregon 43-yard-line. Out of field goal range, Howard was forced to scramble on the game’s final play as Ohio State failed to complete the comeback.
“Was there contact between Jeremiah Smith and the corner? Yes. And was it physical? Yes. There’s no doubt,” FOX analyst Joel Klatt said after the game. “On the film, all night it had been physical and in fact, the play previous Jeremiah Smith is being held the entire time he’s trying to run a corner route. It was a physical game. And they had let them play, for the most part, throughout the entirety of the game.
“Then all of a sudden, the corner squats and Jeremiah Smith is running his route and contacts the corner and then breaks out, doesn’t extend, again he doesn’t push off in order to create the space. And the flag comes out. I thought it was a bad call.”
9. Indiana called for confusing roughing the passer
Late in the third quarter of Indiana’s blowout win over UCLA, Hoosiers defensive lineman Lanell Carr Jr. rushed off the edge and sacked quarterback Ethan Garbers. The 8-yard tackle for loss was flagged by officials and called for pass interference.
“OK, roughing the passer, he doesn’t throw the football,” NBC commentator Todd Blackledge said in the moments after the call. “It’s a sack. How is this roughing the passer?”
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay weighed in and cited passing posture, but admitted the call was arguable.
“Because he’s in a passing posture, Todd,” McAulay said. “Once he goes into that passing posture, he becomes subject to roughing the passer rules. What the rule here was that he drove him into the ground and punished him by landing on top of him. Arguable of course.”
8. Nebraska run spotted incorrectly, forced to use timeout
On the final drive of the first half at Ohio State last Saturday in a one-score game, Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson picked up a first down on 3rd-and-1. But the ball was not spotted correctly, taking time off the clock when the first down should have resulted in the clock stopping.
The play was not reviewed and the clock was not stopped, forcing the Huskers to take a timeout. Nebraska picked up the first down on the next play. The decision resulted in the Big Ten issuing a statement earlier this week.
“During Nebraska’s final drive of the first half, on second down with two yards to gain on the Ohio State 39-yard line, the ball was incorrectly spotted after a run by Cornhusker RB Emmett Johnson,” the Big Ten said in a statement. “The ball carrier crossed the 37-yard line and a first down should have been awarded to Nebraska. Replay should have stopped the game to review the spot since it involved the line-to-gain.”
7. Colorado’s third-down catch ruled incomplete
In the third quarter of Colorado at Nebraska in September, Shedeur Sanders hit Jimmy Horn Jr. on a crucial third down. Officials ruled it an incomplete pass on the field before watching it on replay. The NBC broadcasters were convinced it would be turned over on the replay.
Officials went on to rule it an incomplete pass, stunning NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay.
“That’s the way I see it, Paul,” said McAulay. “And it does appear indisputable in this case. … This is just stunning. There is no question he gets the control with his hands with that toe down. And this is just a clear error in my mind from the Big Ten Command Center. Wow.”
6. Controversial no-targeting call in Miami-Cal
A week after Miami escaped Virginia Tech’s Hail Mary attempt, the Hurricanes were in the middle of another controversial call. On the road at Cal, the Golden Bears led 38-32 in the fourth quarter trying to run out the clock. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza scrambled on 3rd-and-12 but was hit helmet-to-helmet by Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe.
There was no call on the play, but officials reviewed it for targeting. No targeting was found on the replay, forcing Cal to punt. Miami proceeded to go on a six-play, 92-yard drive to escape with a 39-38 win.
“Back-to-back weeks Miami is in a situation where it comes down to replay and you question if the officials are getting the calls correct,” ESPN analyst Brock Osweiler said on the broadcast. “I do not know by the definition of the rulebook, how that is not targeting … By definition that is 100 percent targeting.”
5. Kentucky pick-six overturned
Kentucky defensive back Zion Childress picked off Carson Beck in the second quarterback of the Wildcats’ upset bid to knock off No. 1 Georgia. Childress took the pick-six to the house to put the Wildcats up 10-0 and give Kentucky a sizable lead.
The touchdown was taken off the board after being ruled incomplete, though. The call was flipped upon review as officials said the ball touched the ground before popping up on the interception. Kentucky would have been in full control against the nation’s No. 1 team. Instead, Georgia escaped with a 13-12 win.
UK head coach Mark Stoops later said he “absolutely” sent the overturned pick-six to the SEC for review.
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“Do you want to pay — I get very frustrated but 50 grand is 50 grand,” Stoops joked days after the Georgia game about the $50,000 fine coaches receive when they complain about officiating. “No, if I get pissed enough, I could afford it.”
4. Minnesota onside kick called back for offsides
Minnesota scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Michigan, leaving the Wolverines hanging onto a 27-24 lead with 1:37 remaining in the game. With the Golden Gophers set to kickoff, they attempted an onside kick but were flagged for offsides. Minnesota re-kicked, which Michigan recovered and proceeded to run out the clock.
As the onside kick and call played out in real-time, FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira disagreed with the call and said it was “awfully close.” The play was not reviewable.
“I don’t think he’s offside,” Pereira continued. “… I don’t think he’s breaking the plane.”
Days after Minnesota’s loss, the Big Ten announced it was making a rule change, prompted by the offsides call on the onside kick.
“Effective immediately, the Big Ten has been approved by the NCAA to implement a modified officiating mechanic that will allow the conference to change the manner in which it officiates onside kicks by positioning the Line Judge and Head Line-Judge on the kicking team’s restraining line, thereby putting multiple officials in the best position to consistently make the correct judgment,” the conference said in its statement.
3. Personal foul denies South Carolina pick-six
With 6:15 remaining in LSU at South Carolina, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier dropped back to pass and threw an interception directly to defensive back Nick Emmanwori. With South Carolina up 33-29 and Emmanwori on his way to a pick-six, the Gamecocks had the win all but wrapped up.
But officials threw a flag on the play for a personal foul. South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard was flagged for pushing Nussmeier after the pass and when he started to run out of the pocket. Because of the call, the interception was brought back and South Carolina started its drive from its 10-yard-line.
“What the heck is going on with the roughing the passers?” former ESPN commentator David Pollack said about the call. “They make an unbelievable play, (Kyle) Kennard gets to him and hits him, basically forces an INT, forces him to throw the football. Then he touches him. Like he gives him a little touch and it’s a 15-yard penalty. I’m not sure what you want him to do.”
2. Virginia Tech’s Hail Mary attempt overturned
On the final play of Virginia Tech at Miami in late September, Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones heaved a 30-yard Hail Mary into the end zone. Virginia Tech wide receiver Da’Quan Felton came down with the ball as officials ruled it a touchdown. Miami’s Isaiah Horton emerged from the pile of players with the ball, but it initially appeared Felton caught the ball before it was wrestled away.
As the Hokies celebrated the win on the field, head referee Jerry Magallanes ordered teams back to their sidelines for a replay review. For more than six minutes, officials reviewed the Hail Mary. When Magallanes returned, he announced the touchdown was overturned. The Hurricanes escaped with a 38-34 victory.
“During the review process of the last play …. it was determined that the loose ball was touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds which makes it an incomplete pass and immediately ends the play,” the ACC said in a statement.
1. Texas pass interference overturned
With 3:12 remaining in the third quarter of Georgia at Texas, the cornerback Jahdae Barron picked off Carson Beck and returned it 36 yards. Texas was flagged for defensive pass interference on the play, however, giving Georgia the ball back with a first down.
As officials gathered to discuss the call, Texas fans threw water bottles and trash onto the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Moments later, officials announced defensive pass interference should not have been called and Texas was awarded the ball at Georgia’s 9-yard-line. The Bulldogs went on to win 30-15.
Texas was fined $250,000 by the SEC for fans throwing trash onto the field. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told reporters that, “It’s one of those things I don’t know what I’m allowed to say or not say. So, I won’t comment. I want to respect the wishes of the SEC office.”