What should have been a great showdown between two-ranked teams in Norman, Okla., No. 22 Auburn and No. 11 Oklahoma quickly turned into a joke, as SEC referees made so many blunders that you have to wonder if this was their first time officiating a college football game, or even a football game at all.
Fans of the SEC are used to the officials behind a punching bag, with so many blown calls and blunders that it has become a weekly thing on Twitter to look up #SECOfficiating and see the backlash.
On Saturday, it was at its all-time worst, and it cost Hugh Freeze and the Tigers a win in a hostile environment. It wasn't just abysmal, it was downright robbery by these men who either need to have their jobs stripped from them, their eyesight checked, or, maybe, just maybe, their school affiliations and bias investigated.
It started early, as a clear fumble caused by an Auburn defender was returned 64 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tigers an early lead. But, as always, SEC officials had to get involved, and five minutes later, after a lengthy review that showed that nothing could be determined indisputable, it was reversed in a moment that I can imagine caused Hugh Freeze to yell expletives, even if that's not the Auburn coach's way.
The call was widely criticized by everyone not wearing Oklahoma crimson, even by ABC play-by-play commentator Sean McDonough. Of course, Greg McElroy, an Alabama alum who should never be allowed to get within 100 miles of a stadium Auburn plays in, agreed with the officials.
If that was the only call that cost Auburn points, fine. The referees missed a call that cost the Tigers seven points. I think Freeze and his staff, although still angry, could live with that.
But missing two blatant calls, this time resulting in an Oklahoma touchdown, was too much. Acting as if he were hurt and limping off the field, Isaiah Sategna stopped just short of the sideline, knowing he was left wide open. The Sooners snapped the ball, and there was not a Tiger defender within 20 yards.
When listening to the ABC rules expert, it became apparent that the play should have been an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Sooners. It was an illegal play that cost Auburn seven more points. No review. No official questioning the call. Nothing.
On Auburn's drive in the fourth quarter to take the lead, Cam Coleman was clearly interferred with on a 3rd-down pass. Where was the referee? Running from the play with his head turned away from the action.
SEC officials have become a running joke in college football, and it is only getting worse as the years go by, and they get away with horrible calls, penalties and reviews that would, in the real world outside of the Birmingham-based company that loves itself the Crimson Tide and wants to please the newcomers, Oklahoma and Texas, they would get fired.
It's embarrassing, and it's ruining what is a great sport that makes each fall Saturday perfect. However, with officials making numerous errors that cost teams games, it is time for SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to step up and say, "No more."
We know whether he does that. Under his watch, SEC games have gone from the greatest in the land to almost unwatchable. At a certain point, Sankey and the rest of the SEC office need to take responsibility for this egregious officiating.
I bet it isn't tomorrow, or even in the near future—no need to stir the pot when all the money is still coming in.
Auburn was robbed, and the officials who were on the field need to look Hugh Freeze, his staff and, most importantly, the players in the face and apologize.
That's more likely to happen than them getting a game-changing call right.