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Worst officiating calls of 2024 college football season

Nakos updated headshotby:Pete Nakos•about 10 hours•

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worst college football calls 2024

Throughout most of the 2024 season, college football coaches expressed their disdain for bad officiating calls. With conference-based officiating, scrutiny has ramped up.

On3 asked college football fans on X to share their opinions and examples on the worst officiating calls of the 2024 season. We received nearly 300,000 views and 200 comments and ranked the 10 worst calls of the season, focusing specifically on decisions that were made in games. The 2024 season brought plenty of no-calls of note, but On3 is focusing on the worst calls that were made in games.

Here are the top 10 worst officiating calls of the college football season:

10. Nebraska run spotted incorrectly, forced to use timeout

On the final drive of the first half at Ohio State 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.”

9. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese called for targeting, NCAA later overturns call

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese was ejected during the late stages of the fourth quarter in the Buckeyes’ win over Nebraska. He was called for targeting after hitting Nebraska wide receiver Jahmal Banks. After a lengthy video review, Reese was ruled to have hit Banks in the head, giving the Cornhuskers 15 extra yards as they tried marching down the field for a game-winning touchdown. Reese’s afternoon was cut short.

The play also resulted in Buckeyes coach Ryan Day spiking his headset and getting a sideline warning. He was close to earning a 15-yard penalty for the antics. Fans proceeded to throw trash onto the field in protest, causing a delay in action. Days after the game, the NCAA announced it had reviewed the call and it was determined it was not targeting.

8. Alabama called for illegal touching on Ryan Williams’ TD

With Alabama trying to find momentum for a comeback at Oklahoma in late November, wide receiver Ryan Williams appeared to pull in an impressive catch. The touchdown was called off, however, as an illegal touching penalty was called on Alabama near the end of the play. If Williams’ touchdown had stood, would Alabama pull off the comeback? That’s an unknown.

But the 5-yard penalty resulted in a loss of downs, as Alabama went on to lose 24-3 to the Sooners. According to Rule 12, Article 8 of the NCAA Football rule book, illegal touching is a reviewable call. According to the rulebook, illegal touching is called when: No originally ineligible player while inbounds may intentionally touch a legal forward pass until it has touched an opponent or an official.

“They said it was illegal touching, so someone had to have been covered up, (making him) ineligible,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said postgame. The first-year head coach was seen yelling at the officials on the sidelines after the call.

7. Tulane’s game-winning touchdown against Kansas State called back

As Kansas State led 34-27 at Tulane with 17 seconds remaining in September, Tulane wide receiver Yulkeith Brown pulled in a touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining. However, the Green Wave’s Dontae Fleming was flagged for offensive pass interference, wiping out the touchdown. Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah threw an interception three plays later, sealing the win for Kansas State.

At that moment, the call had College Football Playoff ramifications as Tulane and Kansas State were viewed as contenders for the 12-team playoff. Both teams ultimately failed to make the CFP.

6. 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 in early October, 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. 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.

4. Controversial pass interference called late in Georgia Tech-Georgia

Facing a 4th-and-4 at the Georgia Tech 4-yard line with 8:45 remaining to play and trailing 20-6, Carson Beck dropped back to pass and targeted tight end Oscar Delp. The Yellow Jackets were called for defensive pass interference on the play, automatically giving Georgia a First-and-Goal from the 2-yard line.

The Bulldogs scored two plays later, cutting into the deficit. The game went on to overtime, where Georgia escaped 44-42. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key argued the Yellow Jackets tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage, which would have nullified the pass interference.

3. Texas pass interference overturned

With 3:12 remaining in the third quarter of Georgia at Texas, cornerback Jahdae Barron picked off Carson Beck and returned it 36 yards. Texas was flagged for defensive pass interference on the play, 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 that 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, “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.”

2. Personal foul denies South Carolina pick-six

With 6:15 remaining in LSU at South Carolina in mid-September, 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. The call had College Football Playoff implications, too, as the loss played a factor in the Gamecocks missing the playoff.

“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.”

1. Texas not called for targeting against Arizona State

With the Peach Bowl tied at 24-24 with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt completed a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Melquan Stovall. Stovall immediately took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Texas safety Michael Taaffe. With Stovall on the ground for several minutes, many expected Texas to be called for targeting which would put Arizona State inside the Longhorns’ 40-yard line.

Texas was never flagged for targeting on the field. Officials upstairs ultimately decided Taaffe’s hit was not targeting, meaning the Sun Devils faced a 4th-and-5 from midfield. Kenny Dillingham opted to punt, and Texas went on to win 39-31 in overtime.

“My phone has been burning up all morning,” former NFL referee Gene Steratore wrote on X. “Yes, this should have been a flag for targeting in Texas vs. Arizona State. It meets all of the criteria of targeting (Rule 9-1-4).”

The no-targeting call went viral, becoming a talking point across the college football world and beyond. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark demanded a review of CFP officiating, too.

“As a member of the College Football Playoff management committee, I have had multiple discussions seeking clarity surrounding the targeting call on Arizona State’s final drive of the 4th quarter with Richard Clark,” Yormark said in a statement. “Moving forward, we need to address CFP officiating to ensure national standards are developed. These standards will be crucial to the CFP’s future, and I look forward to discussing them with my fellow committee members when we meet next.”