SEC officiating mars Alabama-Georgia game in Bulldogs win: 'THE REFS JUST SCREWED ALABAMA'
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Gunner Stockton and Georgia prevailed on the road in Tuscaloosa on Saturday for a top-10 win against No. 7 Alabama, keeping the Bulldogs undefeated through the first six weeks of the season.
The biggest takeaway of the game won't be the back-and-forth heavyweight clash between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Instead, it'll be the officiating down the stretch, potentially contributing to Georgia's 20-17 win.
The trio of plays started with officials overturning an interception from Alabama linebacker QB Reese in the third quarter. ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit criticized the call, saying there was no definitive proof the ball bounced off the turf instead of Reese's wrist.
Then came the no-targeting in the fourth quarter on Georgia's Demello Jones after his hit on Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams dislodged the ball on third down. Officials declined to throw the flag, and Alabama ultimate punted after a false start penalty on fourth down.
Alabama WR Ryan Coleman-Williams exited the game again after this hit. pic.twitter.com/xcYinJXvbc
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) October 11, 2026
Officials then appeared to miss a defensive pass interference penalty against Georgia — perhaps the biggest miss of the night — on Alabama's last drive.
On second-and-10 from Georgia's 34-yard line, Keelon Russell took a shot downfield to Rico Scott. Russell's pass was broken up by Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden, but replay appeared to show Bolden and fellow defensive back Braylon Conley making contact with Scott during the play, preventing the Alabama receiver from having a chance to make the catch.
The officials didn't call pass interference on this play in Georgia-Alabama. pic.twitter.com/mFMno9Orex
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) October 11, 2026
On the ensuing play, Russell took a 9-yard sack that took Alabama out of field goal range and forced the Crimson Tide to punt the ball back.
Following the no-call on the defensive pass interference, ESPN's cameras caught Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer screaming towards officials from the sidelines, a side not often seen from the Crimson Tide coach.
Given the magnitude of the missed called penalties down the stretch, there were penalty of reactions from those on social media within the college football world:
College football reactions to officiating in Alabama-Georgia
Here's a snippet of those reactions:
You’ve got to be kidding me.
And of course, the SEC will not ever answer for this disastrous officiating tonight.
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) October 11, 2026
HOW IS THAT NO PI?????
— Matt Landry (@Landry1117) October 11, 2026
That was textbook targeting on a defenseless receiver but they’re not even going to look at that??
That’s egregious.
— AJ Spurr (@SpurrFM) October 11, 2026
That non PI just making up for the multiple missed holding calls
— Dawgsontop (@dawgsontop2017) October 11, 2026
I can’t believe Alabama didn’t get that call. In Tuscaloosa
— Joe McCann (@JoeMcCann3) October 11, 2026
THE REFS JUST SCREWED ALABAMA WITH ONE OF THE WORST NO-CALLS YOU WILL EVER SEE.
🤯🤯🤯
THIS IS THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF PASS INTERFERENCE, AND THE OFFICIALS SOMEHOW DIDN’T THROW A FLAG.
A CALL THIS EGREGIOUS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. pic.twitter.com/GIANJ3ZvO6
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 11, 2026
That absurd pass interference non-call in Georgia-Alabama is the best argument I’ve seen for the expanded playoff.
It can offset the general officiating incompetence of college refs.
— Legal Phil (@Legal_Fil) October 11, 2026
i hate alabama as much as anybody, but at some point we have to acknowledge that SEC officiating is a legitimate problem. it’s getting ridiculous.
— Lauren (@laurdkog) October 11, 2026
@SECOfficiating are you even watching the Alabama/Georgia game?!?! That was blatant PI. Pathetic officiating!! #sorryrefsruinfootball
— Unsportsmanlike_Conduct (@personal_f0ul) October 11, 2026
SEC officiating is at an all time low. #SEC#Alabama#UGA#Bama#CFB
— Akshay Gaddamanugu (@AkshayTalks_) October 11, 2026
Wow the refs just gifted Georgia a win.
— Squid_Tha_Goat (@Jesus_Tha_Goat) October 11, 2026
Hate to complain about officiating, but it is hard to put into words how bad tonight has been. Unbelievable. Proud of this team no matter what.
— Jake Coker (@RealJakeCoker) October 11, 2026
Might be the worst no call I’ve ever seen in my life
— Old Row Alabama (@OldrowAlabama) October 11, 2026
The refs played too big of a role in a massive SEC game . The Alabama Georgia game had some questionable calls.
— Nick Wize (@iAmNickWize) October 11, 2026
How is this not targeting. A clear helmet to helmet hit on Ryan Coleman-Williams. @ClintRLambpic.twitter.com/kdD4GqFW37
— Hannah Stephens (@TheUASignGirl) October 11, 2026
Insanely blatant missed pass interference there! Are you kidding me?!
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 11, 2026
This is blatant pass interference. Refs should be suspended for this nonsense. https://t.co/prNGfjtd3f
— Greg Barnes (@GSBarnes23) October 11, 2026
Definitely was pass interference. But before that, was not a catch.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 11, 2026
Missed face mask, ghost overturn on an INT, and the most egregious DPI of the college football season.
And that’s on top of forming a metro turnstile for Georgia backs for four quarters.
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) October 11, 2026
Bama is gonna lose because of this.
I have never, and I mean NEVER blame the refs, but this is on the refs. Shame on you @SECOfficiating Between this and the Missed targeting on Ryan Coleman-Williams, you should be embarrassed. https://t.co/qaMsBYVdnj
— GaryBary (@GaryBary26) October 11, 2026
At a loss https://t.co/9lZiDa4gEj
— Barstool Bama (@BarstoolAlabama) October 11, 2026
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC officiating mars Alabama-Georgia game in Bulldogs win: 'THE REFS JUST SCREWED ALABAMA'
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