‘Terrible Call,’ ‘This Game Needs to Be Investigated’ — David Pollack, CFB Fans Call Out Controversial Officiating in Texas-Missouri Clash

In No. 7 Texas’ 34-20 win at No. 18 Missouri on Saturday, disputed calls drew reactions as Texas scored the game’s final 21 points.

A forward-progress whistle wiped out a fumble recovery right before halftime, while late in the third quarter, a ball that came out as Texas QB Arch Manning went to pass was ruled a fumble, which Texas recovered beyond the line to gain. That call stood on replay, and the Longhorns tied the game three plays later.

Replay Upholds Forward-Progress Call on Cayden Lee Before Halftime

The last disputed call of the first half came after Texas kicker Gianni Spetic’s 27-yard field goal tied the game 10-10 with 1:57 left in the second quarter.

On Missouri’s next drive, the ball came out of Tigers WR Cayden Lee’s grasp as Texas defenders worked to bring him down, and the Longhorns recovered. Officials blew the play dead, judging Lee’s progress already over, and replay let the call stand. Texas never called a timeout after the stop, and the half ran out with Missouri holding the ball.

The whistle caught flak from college football analyst David Pollack, who wrote: “I thought that was a bad call in Texas/Missouri game. Ball carrier clearly going forward, ball stripped out. Don’t understand that at all. Terrible call.”

Another fan was on the same page, writing, “Agree, that was a terrible call. Not sure how that didn’t get overturned. Could be hugely consequential in this game.”

Another fan blamed the replay booth: “Horrible. Not even close. Replay booth is a joke.”

Another fan took a dig at SEC officials more broadly: “Horrible like most SEC officials.”

Arch Manning Fumble Ruling Stands and Sets Up Texas’ Tying Touchdown

Missouri took the opening possession of the second half, and a review went against the Tigers on that drive. A Lee catch that had been ruled complete on the field was overturned, and they settled for a 48-yard Blake Craig field goal and a 13-10 lead.

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Missouri was back in front 20-13 late in the third quarter after Naeshaun Montgomery’s 72-yard touchdown catch. Texas then faced third-and-10 from the Missouri 39.

Manning was hit on the arm as he went to pass and the ball fell to the turf downfield. Officials ruled it a fumble rather than an incomplete pass, and Emmett Mosley V recovered it, leaving Texas at the Missouri 25, beyond the line to gain.

The ruling stood after a replay review, giving the Longhorns a first down instead of fourth-and-10. Texas needed just three more snaps to pull even at 20, on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Jermaine Bishop Jr.

Texas never trailed again, and Raleek Brown’s 23-yard touchdown catch from Manning with 5:03 left gave the Longhorns their first lead of the game.

The frustration ran the other direction, too, with one fan writing, “…this game needs (to be) investigated. There has been at least 5 bad calls against Missouri. Game-changing bad calls.”

Another fan zeroed in on replay, writing, “How can a team end up 0/6 on reviews? This is absolutely bananas.”

Replay had cost Missouri early, overturning a touchdown on the opening drive before the Tigers scored on fourth down, then taking away an end-zone catch by Montgomery that left them settling for a 22-yard field goal.

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The Associated Press counted five video reviews that all went against the Tigers, though replay had upheld the forward-progress ruling on Lee before halftime, a review that went Missouri’s way.

The calls came in a game that weighed heavily on both teams’ playoff chances. As of Nov. 7, before kickoff, PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gave Texas an 84.7% chance to make the playoff, rising to 93.0% with a win, while Missouri’s 13.4% chance was projected to fall to 5.7% with a loss.

Before the game, the Playoff Meter also put Missouri’s chance of reaching the SEC title game at 6.9%, dropping to 1.3% with a loss.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.