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College football fans and media rip SEC refs over controversial forward fumble call in Texas-Missouri game
Texas came from 20-13 behind to beat Missouri 34-20, but a disputed third-quarter ruling drew criticism from fans, commentators and former officials. The play helped the Longhorns keep a drive alive, and three plays later they scored the tying touchdown, making the decision a major talking point in a game with College Football Playoff implications.
On third-and-10, Arch Manning lost control of the ball while being hit; officials ruled it a forward fumble rather than an incomplete pass. Texas receiver Emmett Mosley V recovered it 14 yards downfield for a first down. The crew reviewed the play and upheld the ruling, while former referee Terry McAulay said Manning’s hand moved forward before he lost control. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz hinted he risked a fine if he publicly criticised the officials.
In short
- Texas beat Missouri 34-20 after trailing by seven.
- A reviewed forward-fumble ruling extended a key Texas drive.
- Fans and commentators questioned the officiating.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The officials could reasonably uphold the ruling if they judged that Manning’s hand moved forward before he lost control, as former referee Terry McAulay said. On that interpretation, the ball was a fumble, and Texas’s recovery beyond the line to gain made the first down valid; the crew reviewed the play and found no basis to overturn its call.
The case against
Critics could argue that the ball came loose as Manning was being hit and that the play looked more like an incomplete forward pass than a fumble. Because the ruling gave Texas a first down and helped sustain the drive for a tying touchdown, they may see the review as insufficiently resolving a consequential call, particularly in a game with playoff implications.