Things didn’t go well Saturday for Texas A&M in its 26-20 home loss to No. 11 Alabama, and fans on Twitter (now X), were particularly furious with the officiating.
Of course, that’s nothing new in college football. People are mad at referees all the time, though it’s usually for something like a questionable call. Saturday, however, it was for literally being in the Aggies’ way.
To start the fourth quarter as the Crimson Tide had a 24-17, Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson tried to hit wide receiver Evan Stewart on second-and-6 from the Alabama 45-yard line for what would have been a needed first down. Unfortunately for the Aggies, Stewart couldn’t make the catch — no doubt in large part because an official was standing perfectly in the way. And didn’t move.
Perhaps this official could use a little more situational awareness…
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 7, 2023
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Johnson followed that play up with another incomplete pass, and Texas A&M had to punt on the drive.
Unsurprisingly, Aggies fans were not happy, and some thought Texas A&M should have been compensated with an extra down. But it could also just be considered a bad bounce that’s part of the game.