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WATCH: Refs make confusing ruling on controversial potential safety call in Georgia vs Tennessee

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•11/05/22•

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Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It didn’t take long for controversy to ensue during the Tennessee vs. Georgia game. With 3:53 to play in the first quarter, Georgia appeared to force a Hendon Hooker fumble in the end zone and subsequent recovery by Tennessee, but officials ruled the Volunteers got the ball out of the end zone before the lineman’s knee hit the ground.

After a lengthy review, the referees ruled the call on the field stood. Tennessee got out of the end zone, making it fourth down for the Volunteers — and the CBS announcers disagreed with the call.

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“I think the fumble — I agree, I don’t believe that’s a forward pass. He’s bringing the ball back,” CBS rules analyst and former referee Gene Steratore said. “So I’ve got Hooker with a fumble.

“What I see here is I think I feel, guys, that if he still has maintained possession of that football, then he is down before that football — and let’s remember, that entire football must get back in the field of play in order for it to be in the field of play and not a safety. In my opinion, when that o-lineman gets that recovery there and starts to be getting tackled, that ball is not clearly out of the end zone, and that would result in a safety.”

After Tennessee punted, Georgia wasted no time putting points on the board as Stetson Bennett found Ladd McConkey for a 37-yard touchdown to make it a 14-3 Bulldogs lead as time ticked away in the opening quarter.

Tennessee running back Jabari Small heads to medical tent with injury vs Georgia

Trailing early against Georgia, one of Tennessee’s top weapons headed to the medical tent. Jabari Small left the game in the first quarter with an injury.

Small is a key piece of the high-powered Tennessee offense, entering Saturday’s showdown ranking second on the Volunteers with 475 rushing yards to go with a team-high eight touchdowns. He had one carry for three yards at the time of the injury.

On the ensuing drive, CBS’ Jenny Dell provided an update on Small’s status, saying he suffered a shoulder injury and would be available to return if necessary.