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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Texas beat Missouri 34-20 on Saturday in a massive game for both sides and their chances of getting into the College Football Playoff. The No. 7 Longhorns improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play with the win, while the No. 18 Tigers dropped to 6-3 and 3-3 in the SEC.
Missouri, led by quarterback Austin Simmons, hung with Texas for most of the game, but it turned in the third quarter. Arch Manning was hit from behind as he tried to throw, and a Missouri defender tipped the ball. Officials ruled it a fumble, a Longhorns receiver recovered it, and the SEC replay center upheld the call. Two plays later, Manning hit Jermaine Bishop for a 25-yard touchdown that tied the game at 20. Texas went on to score 21 straight points and sealed the win with a defensive stop on downs.
Missouri didn't help itself, going just 3 for 16 on third downs and scoring one touchdown in the entire second half, along with struggles on special teams. But the officiating stuck out the most, and fans and announcers took notice.
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"Texas has literally gotten EVERY call in this game AT Missouri. It’s been unfair to the Tigers today. Four reviews, all went to Longhorns. Announcers have even picked up on it. SMH," wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford.
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Crawford wasn't the only one who blasted the officiating though.
"Imagine a world where Mizzou picks up that arch 'fumble' and runs it back for a TD. There’s ZERO chance in hell they’d let that stand. None," another user commented.
"The SEC determined before the game they need Texas in the 12-team playoff. If Mizzou wins, Texas is out of CFP. Refs have been instructed to save Texas. All about conference getting paid," one other replied.
"Same crew from the Tennessee and South Carolina game. Worst crew in the SEC by far," another wrote.
"Mizzou got hosed by SEC refs. Yes, it did itself no favors with breakdowns in the secondary & missed FGs/miscues Texas won, but spare us the nonsense it was an evenly-called game. Props to Joe Tessitore & Jesse Palmer for calling out the bad decisions. No home cookin' in Columbia," another user commented.
"The fact that the ESPN announcer is calling it out is the only thing that’s surprising about this," one other added.
"RIGGED: ESPN announcer calls out SEC refs for ANOTHER missed call favoring Texas. 'I can't believe I'm saying this.' Texas needs a win to avoid being eliminated from CFP contention," another wrote.
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This isn't the first time this season SEC officials have come under fire, but Saturday's game caught so much attention because of what was at stake. ESPN's Jesse Palmer said Missouri fans and coach Eli Drinkwitz should be "livid." Some Texas fans pushed back and said the mistakes went both ways, but the majority agreed that Missouri got the worst of it.
Earlier in the season, the SEC admitted it misapplied a rule on a Tennessee onside kick against Texas, and the Big 12 also had an instance recently with Notre Dame and BYU where there should have been one more second on the clock in a game the Irish lost by just four points. Georgia had a late no-call against Alabama as well a few weeks ago that drew mass outrage.
Texas still has big games left, including at LSU on Nov. 14, at home against Arkansas on Nov. 21, and at Texas A&M on Nov. 28. Wins in Baton Rouge and College Station should be enough to get them into the playoffs, which couldn't be said had they lost Saturday at Missouri.
As for Missouri, they've now lost two of their last three games, both against ranked opponents, and are up against it to make the CFP. They'll go to No. 2 Georgia next weekend before hosting No. 6 Kentucky and closing out the season at home against Oklahoma. Even if they win out, it feels unlikely Drinkwitz's squad will get into the playoffs.
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