Correlation doesn’t always equal causation, but the referees in this Georgia-Texas game may have got a little nudging from the crowd to overturn a big call.
In the third quarter of the game, while trailing 23-8, a Texas defender intercepted Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and got the ball deep into Georgia territory. The crowd responded by throwing empty cans onto the field, which forced the officials to pause the game. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian tried to get the crowd to stop, but while he was settling the crowd down, the referees decided to review the play for pass interference. After reviewing the play, the interception was overturned and ruled pass interference in Georgia’s favor.
Chaotic scene in Austin:
A Texas interception vs Georgia was — *initially* — negated after the officials ruled defensive pass interference on the play.
Texas fans then threw bottles onto the field, leading to Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian pleading with the fans to stop. pic.twitter.com/v5yJQMSqol
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 20, 2024
It’s been a very rough night for Texas, who were so bad in the first half that Sarkisian briefly benched starter Quinn Ewers for Arch Manning to try and get a spark from the offense, only for the offense to be equally bad with Manning.
Meanwhile, football fans have been ripping Texas all night for getting blown out at home by Georgia, prompting everyone to say the same thing: “Welcome to the SEC.”
“This is for all those 2018 Sugar Bowl jokes. We didn’t forget. WELCOME TO THE SEC (expletive)!!” one Georgia fan wrote.
“Welcome to the SEC Texas. I, for one, can’t believe the daunting schedule of Colorado St, Mich, UTSA, UL-Monroe, Miss St, and this years version of Oklahoma didn’t prepare you for Georgia,” wrote another.
“Stay classy, Texas. Welcome to the SEC,” college sports insider Brett McMurphy joked.
It’s certainly not the welcoming Texas wanted.
The game is being played on ABC.
Related: Texas QB Quinn Ewers Benched, Arch Manning Replaces Him After Rough Start vs. Georgia