‘This Is Illegal,’ ‘How Inexcusable Was This?’ — CFB Fans Question How SEC Refs Allowed Controversial Tennessee Onside Kick vs. Texas

‘This Is Illegal,’ ‘How Inexcusable Was This?’ — CFB Fans Question How SEC Refs Allowed Controversial Tennessee Onside Kick vs. Texas

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‘This Is Illegal,’ ‘How Inexcusable Was This?’ — CFB Fans Question How SEC Refs Allowed Controversial Tennessee Onside Kick vs. Texas
‘This Is Illegal,’ ‘How Inexcusable Was This?’ — CFB Fans Question How SEC Refs Failed to Flag a Blatant Rules Violation in Texas vs. Tennessee
‘This Is Illegal,’ ‘How Inexcusable Was This?’ — CFB Fans Question How SEC Refs Failed to Flag a Blatant Rules Violation in Texas vs. Tennessee

Texas escaped with a dramatic 20-17 win over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium Saturday. The victory kept the Longhorns undefeated at 4-0, with their defense playing a major role in the matchup.

Texas’ special teams unit, meanwhile, made a huge blunder in the game, allowing Tennessee to recover a controversial onside kick that could have turned the game on its head.

That kick became one of the biggest talking points of the weekend for a very different reason.

College Football Community Furious After Tennessee’s Controversial Onside Kick vs. Texas

On the play in question, Tennessee punter Jackson Ross attempted an Australian-rules football-style drop kick on the onside kick.

Instead of placing the ball on a standard plastic tee, Ross held it in his hands, ran forward, and dropped it onto the turf before immediately kicking it as it bounced.

Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo nearly secured the ball, but it came loose, allowing Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter to recover it at their own 49-yard line.

NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay later argued that the play should have been ruled illegal because Ross did not kick the ball from the 35-yard line.

“This is illegal on a kickoff. The ball must be kicked on the restraining line, the 35-yard line here. There is an exception for safety kicks, but not a kickoff,” McAulay tweeted.

Many from the college football community also joined in the discussion.

“This was an illegal play. Has to be kicked from the 35-yard line. Exactly the 35. No exception in the rules,” one user on X wrote.

“I was today years old when I learned this was a legal kick in the game I have spent my life employed by,” Valor Christian Athletics head football coach Mike Sanford remarked.

The recovery gave Tennessee a chance to pull off a miracle comeback before a last-second Hail Mary was broken up in the end zone.

The fact that officials initially threw a flag before picking it up and awarding Tennessee the ball only added to the frustration among some fans.

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“Interesting. However, not surprised the SEC officials didn’t know this rule,” one fan piled on.

“How inexcusable was this today? Once again getting away with a blatant right job, NCAA,” another user added.

“Tennessee recovered an illegal onside kick at the end of the Texas game. But not even the refs could help them actually tie the game,” the Bad Sports Refs account wrote.

The legality of Tennessee’s onside kick is likely to remain a major talking point throughout the week.

However, from Texas’ perspective, the win significantly strengthened its position in the College Football Playoff picture, as PFN’s Playoff Meter shows the Longhorns’ CFP chances increasing by 7.8%.

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Texas will have a bye next week before traveling to go up against Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Tennessee will return to action on Oct. 3 against Auburn.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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