College Football Officiating Is Broken - What THEY Told Me

College Football officiating was a disaster in week 3 with blown calls and ill-advised flags being thrown left and right. On Josh Pate's College Football Show Ep 555 Josh Pate broke down why College Football officials essentially decided the outcomes of games like LSU vs South Carolina while also making egregious calls in UGA vs Kentucky, Oregon vs Oregon State, and more. After Sunday's show several College Football officials reached out and shared their point of view. Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you multiple live shows per week!
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[@JoshPateCFB]

Keep the show free - SUBSCRIBE to the channel! - JP

[@alonzokincaid1362]

The refs are fixing games!

[@LordBalin]

@JoshPateCFB don't subscribe to this shill channel. Vegas pays these guys.

[@themaestro5338]

@@JoshPateCFB Autrey needs to be fired. He’s the worst and he’s not qualified. He should even be investigated.

[@stevelenores5637]

This might get censored but this is DEI screwing college sports. (Obviously - but the obvious is what gets censored.)

[@chuckgraham1695]

Please explain just how stupid it is to have a game in which you are making BILLIONS of dollars but cannot provide full time employees to officiate your game and STANDARDIZE the damned calls??? I've bitched about this for over 40 years, and yet, here we are, still bitching about it.

[@jrandall5736]

Because college football isn’t a full time sport. It’s seasonal. If you pay a lawn service to mow your lawn in the summer, are you going to pay them full time 12 months a year?

[@JingleStic]

@@jrandall5736 teachers get paid only for 10months out of the year but have their salaries paid out over 12 months. They can afford to pay the refs.

[@randombutrelevant]

the ncaa still exists

[@georgesapp8566]

@@jrandall5736 you definitely can have them on 12 Month Contract. I’m a teacher and I’m on a 12 month contract. I only work 9 months. The other 3 months I stay home and still get paid. They can definitely have the refs do trainings and stuff in the off-season. NCAA has so much money to make that work. Not saying that is the best thing for them to do. But it’s definitely possible and can pretty much easily be done

[@akjdhajkdjhaghjkadh9804]

@@jrandall5736 missed every ounce of meaning from the comment

[@floridapmi]

I have NEVER understood why there are conference officials, should be a governing body that oversees all games.

[@edkiely2712]

As far as a central governing body, I would agree, especially for all football functions. They are regional primarily because of travel issues. Numerous officials would quit if they had to travel cross-country to do games. Also, officials doing conference games builds familiarity and recognition with players, coaches, and stadiums!

[@tededuncan2306]

Conference officials suck and lead to nothing but conspiracy theories.

[@JoshPateCFB]

"The way it's always been done"

[@rickydavis1051]

@@JoshPateCFBin that case let’s go back to leather helmets

[@threefour4753]

Google ‘Why do conferences have their own referees?’ The first answer the AI gives is Bias. As far as a governing body…why not the ncaa rather than the conferences?

[@dare2554]

It is time to stop fining coaches for being honest about the crap officiating. Instead of fining coaches, fine officials when they make an obviously blatant bad call.

[@Michael-gu5kl]

How do you know it is a bad call and why don't you become an Official yourself and if you were to become an Official what sport would you work?

[@bryanrichardson6401]

@@Michael-gu5kl are you an official?

[@edkiely2712]

Are you OK with being fined at work when you make mistakes?

[@Zach2A]

@@Michael-gu5klliterally shut up

[@carolinaguy85]

What happened to free speech. Sec officials don’t pay coaches pay checks

[@ajdean07]

Get em Josh! Who is “they?” This is a perfect answer for officiating. No accountability. They just do what they want. Players & coaches should stop doing press conferences until refs are required to answer questions about their individual calls.

[@bmaclaps]

Whoever the refs were at the Gamecocks game should be sent down to high school ball immediately.

[@BarbellThor]

Yea. They missed the penalty on the cocks for jumping over the punt block shield.

[@christopherbrock8913]

Definitely the worst call of the year has already happened - that personal foul penalty against South Carolina on the interception cost them the game - I am a Bama fan and didn't have a dog in the fight - but that was just bad

[@GridironStuds]

Don't do that to the kids

[@boddaboom77]

That crew has been garbage for a while.

[@bcreepy00]

Nah we blew a 0-17 led but the penalties didn’t help

[@theathletearchives]

4 days later and I'm still mad about the Gamecocks getting hosed.

[@ryanvolk7577]

Don’t let a 17 point lead when you’re at home get squandered.

[@thelugoffgamecock792]

​@@ryanvolk7577valid point, but 14 points removed.....cmon man

[@themaestro5338]

@@theathletearchives man I’m still mad about the Bama at Tennessee game 2 years ago. They flagged us 17 times. Many were justified false starts, but they took the game from us in the end when Kool-aid McInstry intercepted the pass in the end zone and returned it out to the 40 or so. The official waited till he got to past the 20, looked at another official, then pulled out a flag and called PI. It wasn’t PI. Earlier in the game one of their DB’s jumped on top of our receiver’s shoulders…no call. One of their defenders lowered his head and hit Bryce with crown of his helmet right in the jaw and they didn’t even call roughing the passer, much less the textbook targeting it was. How can one not think these things are blatant instead of sheer incompetence. You can’t be that damn dumb.

[@Pty23]

I love how the 17 point lead is used to justify one horrific call after another going against Carolina. Give me a freakin break.

[@jrandall5736]

The blind side block on QB was correct call. Players know you can’t peel back or make a blindside block. I had no dog in the fight and my first thought was “the player should be kicked off the team for such a stupid act. He knew he was wrong. Apparently he has no discipline and he’s going to hurt them somewhere else down the road. If you want to be mad at somebody be mad at the stupid player costing South Carolina the game.

[@LanceMan]

As much money as college football makes, they should hire full-time officals. As long as its a part-time job there will always be part-time results.

[@edkiely2712]

I had a friend who was a college and NFL official for a combined 27yrs! If you don't think these guys aren't putting in "full-time hours" related to their officiating- think again! No amount of extra time is going to "improve subjective judgments."

[@LanceMan]

@@edkiely2712 they would be more consistent if this was their full time job. There is no reason for them to put in full time hours for a part time job. Do you honestly think they all do a lot of extra work?

[@MarkMay-cr6bv]

@@LanceMan No, Lance, they wouldn't. That's an old wives' tale repeated by people who don't want to repeat what they've heard instead of thinking for themselves. They have full-time officials/umpires in basketball and baseball because they play 3-4 games a week and it has to be a full-time job. What are you going to do with a football official? They only work once a week. The only thing they could do if the job were full time is sit around and watch film all day every day, which migh help them be a littl esharper on more obscure rules, but it isn't going to make them better officials. Watching film taken from a vanage point high above the field and actually being on the ground, with your view often obscured by one or more much larger human beings, are two distinctly different things.

[@edkiely2712]

@@LanceMan Explain to me what you mean by "if this was their full-time job?" You want them to officiate 40hrs of games a week?🤣They spend hours reviewing every game they officiate! They are each graded and reviewed separately after each game! They also attended multiple seminars and officiating conferences in the off-season, as well as having to maintain their certification and conditioning standards. You act as if this is just something they "do as a hobby" on the side. No amount of additional time is going to make them understand the rule book better. Eventually, the calls that everyone gets all worked-up over and, thinks that "being full-time" would eliminate, are STILL JUDGEMENT CALLS! There is what's called over-preparation as well!

[@LanceMan]

@@edkiely2712 it's not a full time job for them. If it was there would be more consistent. What's called in one conference should be called in every conference. If the NCAA employed them, there would be no built in advantage when you game is officiated by your officials. Don't say there isn't because even the head coaches know. I am sure they review lots and lots of tapes. Well I am sure some of them do. You are speaking about one officials that you know. Are you 100% sure every other official is as diligent? If you want a full time effort you need to provide full time employment. Officials should be consistent across all conferences and the only way to get that is to make them full time. I am sure there are many officials that put in many additional hours. Just like I am sure there are many that don't. As for them making judgment calls, that true but they also miss tons of calls. What is pass inference on the Big 10 should be pass inference in the Big 12. Can you honestly say that every official calls every penalty consistently?

[@GoatedAtNFS]

all i’ll say is this: it’s getting to the point where NFL officiating looks better than CFB officiating, and that it one of the main reasons why I’m slowly starting to stop taking mid season NFL games, playoff games seriously. officiating is always why CFB was better than the NFL until more gambling was legalized in more states and pushed by the media outlets. NFL is only better if your watching competition (player on player) (coach on coach)

[@JWCFB]

Where is your evidence the referees are cheating?

[@j.akelly9775]

Nearly everything you stated was incorrect. NFL officiating has been better than college officiating for decades if not forever. Also, you’re just making a wild guess about gambling having anything to do with bad officiating.

[@GoatedAtNFS]

@@j.akelly9775it ain’t a wild guess if it’s truth with all the players getting warnings and banned from gambling on the facilities. check Chiefs games last year check check Cowboys games last year heck even check the Bengals vs Chiefs game, 3 calls that either didn’t even happen or was called off

[@SomeChink]

NFL officiating has always been better, it’s not even a debate

[@jonp3890]

They want to keep officiating as complicated as healthcare. It’s ridiculous and hugely infuriating.

[@WeatherMan4Ever]

This is WHY the hell that favoritism doesnt BELONG in sports, PERIOD. You dont get fined for calling out BS in the officiating field. This is why fans feel that a lot of games are rigged in the sports industry because of calls that shouldve been overturned because video shows otherwise. My 2 cents...

[@bryanrichardson6401]

There’s also a huge problem that certain coaches get away with intimidation on the sidelines. I think it should be a penalty and a fine for this. These officials are afraid to make a call that the coach on their sideline doesn’t like. They need to clean it up asap.

[@EXOmakemeHorololo]

They also tend to be on the site of the more veteran coaches

[@bryanrichardson6401]

@@EXOmakemeHorololo exactly. As a former official I can tell you I’ve seen the intimidation work and change a game. Saturday Brian Kelly changed how the game was played because they got behind and his team wasn’t responding so he took it over from the sidelines. The Gamecocks were flagged relentlessly until LSU regained control. Saban did it also and was a master at it. Coach K in basketball was awful and had the officials intimidated before the game even started. Too much emphasis is put on certain teams winning and making sure the pecking order remains.

[@DebbieHerbert]

South Carolina was ripped off in their game against LSU

[@yoc329]

somebody didn’t watch the game 😂or just biased

[@GatorZillaChomp]

No, they did on one bad call, too. Just like a targeting called when there was no targeting at all. These refs are throwing games even if they are not intentionally doing so. I don't know about the gambling part of it, so I wouldn't be surprised if games get thrown for that purpose. Josh your spot on and Josh thank you for being the voice.

[@k.w.4068]

Big facts

[@traxiii]

Yep, but not on the Pick, on the Pass Interference call when SCar had the ball the series before, cost them great field position and a first down. The hit on LSU's QB was a penalty. In all the replays, never saw anything close to PI.

[@jslane41]

I've heard that the umpires in the Korean professional baseball league get every game's performance evaluated on a standardized scale, and those who don't do well get sent down to the minors, just like the players. On the other hand, the good ones get promoted to the big leagues. Why can't we do the same with conferences/divisions in college football?

[@jamesknapp64]

That is what happens with football in theory. lower level people are evaluated by higher division officials.

[@jamessimms415]

Well, we know Angel Hernandez had MLB by the balls & blew that idea here in the States.

[@custombimmer]

Union

[@BIGwptrucka]

Never in 30+ years watching this sport have I even entertained the idea that college football might actually be scripted. After watching that SC-LSU game I’m really not sure who or what to believe anymore. Holy moly.

[@iambergeson]

That’s the first time I ever truly questioned the integrity of the sport

[@randalljohnson7391]

Interesting story a DE on a winning team said during a post game interview. This DE was a terror who was pressuring the QB early on in the game. Finally the only way the Offense could stop him was by holding him. The holds were extremely obvious things like seeing the jersey being pulled on the back. Intially, they were being called, which slowed the game down. Then only some were called but some weren't. After almost being pulled over backwards on one hold, the DE looked. The ref came over and told the DE, Yeah I know it was a hold but I didn't feel like you would have gotten to the QB so I didn't call it.

[@Stardust414]

Jesus 🤦🏼‍♀️ Which “winning team” was this?

[@dallasball6624]

Coaches need to join together and speak out and refuse to pay fines

[@chrisjarrell9167]

Nobody noticed the HUGE officiating blunder in the Friday night game between UNLV and Kansas. Kansas lead in the closing minutes of the game with UNLV driving on a 4th and 1 at the 3 yard line. UNLV gets the 1st on a QB sneak for 1st and goal at the 2 but there was a dead ball personal foul after the play moving the ball to the 17 yard line. Ok but the problem is that the refs gave a 1st and 15 instead of 1st and goal. To make it worse, UNLV picks up yet another first down AGAIN at the same 2 yard line which they had just got the first down on a 4th down play just 3 plays earlier. UNLV went on to score two plays later I believe. I was so confused. After the initial 1st down at the 2 and subsequent personal foul, it should’ve been 1st and goal from or 4th and 15, not 1st and 15 with another chance at first down. No coaches or commentators caught it and I still have yet to hear any expert point it out.

[@nategrandusky172]

That’s crazy

[@chrisjarrell9167]

@@nategrandusky172 it really was. It’s hard to explain on here but if you can find the final few minutes of that game go watch it. The refs definitely screwed it up. I’m just shocked that Kansas’ coaching staff didn’t catch it.

[@Joe-sm9qj]

It's not broken, it's FIXED!

[@pcole1596]

100%

[@litedawg]

After the call against Jalon Walker I looked at my son and said this game is broken.

[@unstoppable1727]

Whats sad is that shane beamer for the gamecocks seemed to want to talk about it and how the game should have been an upset but he knew hed get fined. So did his players. Truthfully people keep talking about the 17 point lead but it dropped a lot cause sellers got injured. Otherwise the game wouldnt have been so close.

[@jamessimms415]

There’s a reason I have a sticker w/SouthEastern Conference Officials superimposed on a picture on a blind man wearing Zebra stripes, dark glasses, a cane, & a seeing eye dog….

[@captnjim44smith74]

I’m a SEC fan, not USC or LSU, but the calls on those teams was bad at least two times.

[@TG22222]

Why aren't confrences forced to publish what they're telling referees to focus on that week? Especially if it has such large consequences for both the teams playing AND the sports gambling industry.

[@ryansheard8092]

This is where the ADs of the BIG & SEC need to tell their conference administration that they either create an officiating standard and master plan to hire and train officials to it, or they will remove the commissioner. The commissioners have 30 days to have the entire plan completed.

[@GhalMaraz777]

I'm curious why don't we just have a challenge for flags and such, make it go to the league office and hold them accountable, also it must become a thing to clarify what is a penalty and what is not

[@jrandall5736]

So you want the games to last 12 hours reviewing all flags? Personally I think they should get rid of replay. Fans have to wait 3 minutes to know if they should cheer or boo the play. If an official makes a terrible call, fire them or at very least don’t renew their contract at end of season

[@GhalMaraz777]

​@@jrandall5736I'm saying have it like a challenge flag , you get one per game and if you don't get loste a timeout or something like that, for Instance the super bowl last year while I'm no eagles fan I think a team should be able to challenge a call and go directly to the ruling sanction and make them make the call so it holds them accountable for the decision Instead of shifting responsibility to the refs but never doing anything about it

[@jeffb.8178]

Agreed! College officiating is so out of hand it's sickening. It's to the point that certain teams will get the benefit of the doubt, while the less popular programs have to fight an uphill battle. Don't even get me started on college basketball, which is arguably worse than football... The bias is real people! We deserve better.

[@brodrickmorse]

You are doing the lords work Josh. Thank you for bringing attention to the ridiculousness of college football refs. I wish I could be as bad at my job and have zero accountability like these refs

[@pharoahworld_class_hustlae9997]

Everything you said josh was straight facts!!

[@imbradandyouarenot]

If you want the officiating to get better, stop watching and betting on games. All they care about is money.

[@campbellseamon5076]

Facts 0 consistency; accountability. It’s pretty sad we watch this every week.

[@JWCFB]

Everything can be video reviewed quickly these days yet football is not doing it, it’s especially needed on pass interference.

[@jackshaftoe1715]

REALLY ? Let me guess who played receiver.... 😁

[@hackermusic3355]

If they are going to say a QB isn't allowed to be blocked under the same rules as anybody else then they should also say a QB is not allowed to try to make a tackle after an interception. That said, the most sure way to get a flag is to immediately put your hands up in the air like you didn't do anything and start looking around for a flag.

[@jdogexceeder1820]

Or acting like your dead on the ground looking fir flags cuz you threw your 2nd awful interception

[@yoc329]

they called the same penalty on lsu earlier in the game 😂the rule wasn’t because he was a quarterback it’s because it was a blind side block ? how come you not mad at the same call that was called on lsu ?😂

[@yoc329]

@@jdogexceeder1820lmao maybe if bro didn’t try to get a cheap shot in his team could have won bro gave lsu 2 penalties back he deserves to get the W with lsu for his efforts

[@Crowns57854]

Problem was, that QB wasn’t even blocked!

[@hackermusic3355]

@@yoc329 I'm not mad about either. I couldn't care less who won that game. It just wasn't a blind side block.

[@CaravaggioRMS]

The snap clap(with no snap) was outlawed 3-4? years ago and now suddenly it's a thing again. It absolutely needs to be defined and enforced. We're seeing HUGE offside penalties from "snap simulation" not getting called. I think Justin Herbert got a penalty for it in the ROSE BOWL and yet it's crickets from everyone that this rule has changed? Did change? Did it even exist in the first place? Why can't simple stuff be transparent, not to fans(also to fans), but to the people who are actually officiating the games? This is *insanity*. Give them all $100,000/yr jobs, establish a training academy, and fire their asses if they suck. Firefighters don't just get to sign up and then go their job, and CFB is waaaaaaaay more important than whatever those guys do.

[@randombutrelevant]

thank god you brought this up... been watching for decades, it was the worst saturday I've seen (and that is saying something)

[@MooseMeus]

ambiguous rules equal ambiguous officiating

[@GrouchyKraut]

I like how in rugby the ref is micd up so you can hear him the entire time

[@tysonbazzell2349]

Did anyone else see the Auburn game? Holy cow!

[@themaestro5338]

No, but I saw the one in 2020 against Arkansas that they actually lost, but gave it to them. It’s the one where Bo Nix did the backwards spike. Dumbasses

[@litedawg]

The PI call against Cal was one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen!

[@themaestro5338]

@@litedawg yea it was!

[@joshphillips9033]

As an AU fan, yes that PI should've been another int for Thorne. But thing is, it was truly a makeup for them competely screwing AU on several calls earlier. It's overall just pathetic. Not to forget SC getting shafted last weekend. I saw the comment that Ray tanner should go out guns blazing and light up the officiating crew and make some change happen

[@OneSurferDude]

There was a text book targeting in the AU v NM game and they said it wasn't post review. It was a clear targeting as it has been defined.

[@thedungeondelver]

Matt Loeffler is the worst ref in CFB. CHANGE MY MIND.

[@themaestro5338]

@@thedungeondelver Joe Autrey. Meet me at the bike rack after school. It’s go time.

[@Walker_Bulldog]

Dishonorable mention for Jason Autrey !

[@thedungeondelver]

@@themaestro5338 Matt "I didn't see any PI, Nick" Loeffler. Matt "That sure was a spike, you're right Gus!" Loeffler.

[@glenarnsdorff8515]

Thank you for telling the truth Josh !! Tha fact that head coaches get fined for telling the truth says it all

[@Stardust414]

TY 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 This past Sat Refs for the CU v CSU game cared more about penalizing players like Travis Hunter for TD celebrations than calling targeting fouls - have they no priorities?!? Ex) There was a clear late hit on QB Shedeur and another late hit on Travis by the same player that took him out of the game last season - that was an unpenalized dirty play as well. CU won Saturday’s game so there’s been no outrage (just fans like me grumbling) but it makes me sick every time I see a late hit in any player - no player on any team should be doing that 💩 THOSE ACTIONS CAUSE INJURIES THAT ROB PLAYERS OF VITAL PLAYING TIME!! I know officiating isn’t perfect, you win some you lose some, but a lack of consistency and procedure is beyond unthinkable. I’d go as far as to call it negligent.

[@arby163]

The most opinions I have heard are not about gambling. Many people feel that the fix is in because the conference wants certain teams to win and the officials help them.

[@Joe-sm9qj]

No doubt. Absolutely no doubt. They simply will not allow darlings to lose certain games or play in big ones. As a WVU fan I have witnessed NOT being allowed to win against Oklahoma multiple times, Pitt in 09, Oklahoma State, Miami, etc. yhe refs were all the difference. Bs holding, bs personal fouls. In fact once we played Texas, away, and the refs just ejected our O-lineman. No warning, no explanation. The guy was crying because it was one of his last games and he didn't know why he was ejected. Nobody knew why.

[@powerg3824]

The targeting call is so inconsistent from ref to ref. It should have the player suspension part of the penalty removed.

[@GrimTactics]

I still find it ridiculous that you are not allowed to criticize a group that, in some instances, literally decides the outcome of a close game. So stupid to say, "Yeah, they missed that call in the 4th quarter and it screwed us. Everyone watching knows it.' and then you get fined.

[@zacharyscott6779]

The fact it happened to the Gamecocks... couldnt happen to a nicer bunch of people.

[@jdogexceeder1820]

I dont think it was bad officiating, they were allowing lsu to hold on every play while calling procedure penalties on carolina. This was intentional not ignorance

[@andrewscott1446]

You got it backwards

[@lyndalamb3221]

Then the Conference officials wouldn't be able to use their referees to change the outcomes of games.

[@Ntelec]

You need to address this from the players' perspective. They have no idea what will be called. When a textbook tackle gets flagged, when a game-altering play gets reversed because a legal play draws linen, why should we watch?

[@2528drevas]

Holding is the most obvious, but I have noticed more than one call where a QB throws an interception, starts to move to pursue the ball-carrier, gets blocked, and out comes a personal foul flag. If you are pursuing the ball carrier, you can be blocked!

[@miken2604]

Josh do a little due diligence as to why former NFL white hat and former PAC12 head of officiating Tony Corrente quit his PAC12 position!...He was very frustrated with his PAC12 boss who had zero experience officiating college football

[@boroblueyes]

We used to say that someone was promoted to their next level of incompetence when someone was promoted that didn't earn it.

[@RSeaker]

They even ignore clear video evidence.

[@uni4rm]

Just think. This game is 150 years old and there are no set rules.

[@kevinkrichie]

During the SC/LSU game, I was yelling at the TV "Get off your knees ref you're blowing the game"!!!!!! Pass interference my eyeballs. LSU should have lost.

[@troybaxter]

Same thing every year, and the sad reality is that we will never get proper accountability for ANYTHING in this country. This isn't just an officiating issue, but a greater systemic issue in this country. So many systems are broken and no matter how much change we demand we will never see change because the powers that be care more about power and greed, and less about integrity. Businesses, law enforcement, officiating, politicians, etc. When something goes wrong, the blame is on everyone else and not the people actually responsible, and it is frustrating.

[@wtk6069]

One thing in the Kentucky - UGA game I'd never seen before was a facemask call on a Kentucky player who literally had his entire helmet ripped off his head (by the facemask!) and thrown to the turf by a UGA player. Maybe the UK player also had a facemask, but he DEFINITELY had a facemask committed against him simultaneously. Not to pick on UGA. There were some bad calls and non-calls going both ways in that game.

[@darryhoward4079]

There was another Kentucky player who grabbed a facemask away from the tackle. There should have been offsetting facemask penalties on the play. The officials just didn't see the facemask by the UGA player.

[@richsonjohnard]

As a Dawgs fan, I totally agree. That helmet being ripped off by Starks was one of the most blatant penalties I've seen in a long time. We won but we definitely shouldn't have.

[@Bobcatjack]

Thank you for covering this

[@Havok_1964]

Perfect Subject to discuss the week of the Ark vs Auburn football game. History of this matchup has numerous “incidents” of the Officials handing out the wins/losses themselves with clearly incorrect calls.

[@shplashonurmom8199]

As a Miami hurricane fan, I can’t agree with this more. For years we have had bad call after bad call against us. There was a stat one of our coaches mentioned that in the 2 years he had coached defense, there’s was not a single holding call in favor of our defensive line.

[@christophermaloz-ux6cw]

I just love that LSU getting an illegal punt block by SC never gets brought up. It’s a 2 way street.

[@xtraxtra171]

The referees made several calls against South Carolina that were obviously incorrect and changed the outcome of the game. Terrible officiating.

[@markgriffin5889]

Nice commentary, Josh. Couldn't agree more. Look at Denzel Burke's targeting ejection against WMU. What a shame for these players.

[@keruetz]

Next step to the commissioner’s office. The officials call you.

[@Wonderboy46Z]

Josh you are dead on with your evaluation. Several of those calls against South Carolina in that LSU game was so freaking weak. The pass interference call that wasn’t even close, but the most egregious was that pitiful light shove blocking the LSU QB where he flopped down and made it look like attempted murder. That ref that threw that flag needs to go back to his insurance salesman job and just not come out from his desk ever. He’s doing no one any good on the field. Dude barely got tapped in the should and drew a flag for flopping. You say he popped up real easy and returned to game no problems. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a pure War Eagle fan but I pull for LSU when we’re not playing because my niece is going there. But LSU got a LOT of striped help beating SoCarolina. SEC crews are some of the worst I’ve seen around the NCAA. No consistency from game to game, other than blowing calls several times a game consistently. Sat there watch a USC receiver getting held by the arm but nothing called, several times saw USC D line guys with clear holding against them and even some tackles, yet no holding calls. But there’s plenty of times you don’t see a man move on one side of the ball but get called for a false start, yet when the other team has 4 men throwing their kicks back well before the ball is snapped and not a damn flag was thrown. Lousy. Just lousy officiating.

[@iamlsusam]

No accountability for officials is the main reason why it’s the way it is!

[@pcole1596]

Spot on Josh. Milrowe had his helmet ripped off and no call last Saturday. Pass interference has no standard and I have no idea what targeting is as it's not consistent with the defined rules. Example AL vs TN 2022. The TV announcers cover for the poor officiating and that doesn’t help. Officiating comes across as racketeering in some games. You could have run a half hour of bad calls or no calls this year alone instead of just a few. I'd never bet on sports, ever, because it's too corrupt.

[@HealthySkepticism777]

They leave it like it is because it provides cover for them to manipulate games and control spreads for whoever has the cash and power to influence them.

[@Hazamandeous]

The UGA - KY game was pretty rough officiating as well as the LSU-SC game. Its wild the games get decided by these calls or lack thereof.

[@jswain2351]

Josh took the high road, yet there was SO MUCH evidence from just the last week, he nailed the incompetence & inconsistency of too many college officials. USC was & is a particularly egregious example of a game that was absolutely decided by HORRIFIC officiating.

[@jakobbytheway4284]

Refs should have to do post game press conferences to explain how they were calling the game, what they were seeing, etc

[@LordBalin]

You have the title wrong. College Football is broken.

[@thedungeondelver]

This may be the last season I'm really committed to taking it all in every weekend. I'll still root for my Tide but honestly...yeah. You're right.

[@j.akelly9775]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is that college college football is more popular and more competitive than it has ever been.

[@litedawg]

Yep I used to follow recruiting, listen to podcasts, all of it. Now I watch the games and that’s it except for this show . The players seem to have no loyalty so why should I? I can watch the NFL

[@quixias1897]

The NCAA in a nutshell. It runs in spite of itself.

[@curlyqv2467]

I REALLY wish that Shane Beamer just sucked up the fine and told everyone what they said about the calls. I know he can take the fine. Obviously nobody wants to take it, but I think he almost needs to for any progress to be made

[@yoc329]

there is no find for him to tell y’all what they said 😂brian kelly literally told media what the refs told him. beamer didn’t tell sc fans because they gave the reasoning and he can’t really argue it . better to let yall be in a uproar about it

[@miken2604]

I was on the D1 radar for many years as a D3 college football official... sadly many blacks were promoted ahead of me that never graded out better than me... this is the result.... very sad and unfortunate

[@zplapplap]

There are far too many white officials at issue for you to lazily blame the “blacks.” It’s a conclusion drawn without investigation or examination. You’re drawing conclusions from a raw and racist hunch.

[@markrimelspach7041]

There should be a process to review calls after the games where the leagues should have to answer to what happened in their games and especially for playoff games including officiating and reviews. You are right, they currently do not have to answer to anyone.

[@ccs9630]

Go watch what lead to “ The Hit “ in the 2013 Outback Bowl Gamecocks have been getting robbed by the refs for a long long time

[@Wonkzzilla]

I hate kids getting kicked out of games for playing hard and hitting someone in the wrong spot. There needs to be a warning, and then an ejection if a player get a second targeting call

[@bcp5296d]

In the SC LSU game it was 100% biased towards a team. Doesn't matter why. Its disgusting.

[@IIISWILIII]

The disturbing pattern and trend that I'm noticing is the disparity between the officiating during innocuous and unimportant Downs versus critical and pivotal Downs. I am seeing lots of non-calls and laissez-faire officiating when the plays don't really matter. Then I am seeing thumbs pressing scales during the pivotal snaps of the game. A guy who's been holding all night without being flagged will get that flag at the most crucial moment, for example. Or they will let one line hold all night and flag the other for the tiniest infraction. Another common one is letting wideouts and CBs play until one team lands a massive pass late game, then out comes the phantom PI call. If this trend is true then it suggests the obvious. Deliberate manipulation to affect game outcomes through officiating

[@Steeledawg]

To make things worse, when the playoffs start and differing philosophies start calling teams out of conference then the problems are magnified

[@longarmsgiraffe0955]

It's the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale this weekend, where Floyd got sent home with Minnesota because Cooper Dejean "called" a fair catch that was not called on the field, only mysteriously called after a review. By the way, it wasn't a fair catch.

[@charlesgladden7886]

Bottom line is a lot of Officials get Defensive when you try to Hold them in Account for their calls. That's why the Commissioners charge fines even though the Head Coaches are correct

[@TheRCBuildersPost]

Kentucky and South Carolina really got screwed last week that changed the outcome of each game. Youll never convince me that there isn't a status quo to be kept within the SEC. South Carolina is not allowed to beat an LSU. Kentucky is absolutely not allowed to beat a Georgia. Why? Look at how consequences are given out. Coaches are fined 50k if they even say anything. Youll also never convince me that refs are not managing outcome of games for financial gains. They make on average $26k a season. 😂

[@Anonymousdl]

I believe the same thing. If South Carolina had beaten LSU, LSU probably would have dropped out of the top 25. There's no guarantee that the Gamecocks would have moved into the top 25. Therefore, the SEC cannot have one less team in the top 25 so they screw over my Gamecocks.

[@yoc329]

⁠@@Anonymousdlthey missed calls on lsu too😂

[@yoc329]

man they missed calls on lsu too and the same penalty they called on sc on the last pick 6 they called on lsu earlier in the game .😂so y u not mad about them calling it on lsu? the refs didn’t make south carolina only gain 1 yard in the third quarter

[@JGSnave]

It's all on tape. REVIEW THE CALLS! AND EVERYBODY HAVE THE SAME RULES! AND REVERSE CALLS THAT ARE NOT CORRECT!!! Hell, it ain't rocket science.

[@GrouchyKraut]

I feel like every sport has issues with officiating. The quality has just gone down over the years, across all levels. The head ref of a game should have to do a press conference after the game to explain calls. The lack of transparency is what makes fans more angry.

[@chandlercook7643]

Add "penalty calls" to the list of things that can be challenged by a coach (fumble/no fumble, pass complete/incomplete, TD/no TD, runner down/not down, player or ball inbounds/out of bounds, clock adjustments). We all know all of these can affect outcome of games and slomo highlights more detail than real time. Also, lock and display nationwide penalty rules, same as nationwide OT rules.

[@GridironStuds]

YOu came correct on this right here.

[@ccs9630]

Go watch what lead to “ The Hit” in the 2013 Outback Bowl Gamecocks been getting screwed by the refs for a long long time

[@lukeball4937]

You didn’t even include the blown call against NIU during the Notre Dame game. There are only two people on the planet that thinks he wasn’t a good half yard beyond the first down marker. That’s the lineman that spotted the ball, and the official that reviewed the spot and somehow let the spot stand. But it was in Notre Dame stadium, so I can understand how everybody seems to have “missed“ that call. You should take a look at the replay, and let us know what you think. :-) The rest of these “roughing the quarterback“ calls were inevitable. The zebras can always proclaim self righteously that they were “protecting the player“. You give them that latitude as an escape hatch, and they’re going to throw the flag anytime it’s anywhere near close, And the official reviewing it is going to be extremely reluctant to reverse it. The one you showed where the LSU quarterback got shoved, and not even hit, but crumpled like a soccer player just demonstrates we’re gonna get a bunch more of that. They’ll probably start giving credits toward a drama degree for quarterbacks in the future.

[@autonomouspilgrimage6137]

That NIU call was inexcusable….there’s NO WAY the Running back had the ball at his knees when he got tackled

[@MGnKntkY]

You haven't seen bad officiating until you've watched SEC basketball.

[@JefferyGann]

If the offensive lineman can use their hands to block the officials can call holding at any time

[@ralphstebenne1873]

Josh, please keep the heat on these organizations.

[@markpvip21]

Thank you Josh for saying what we all know but most commentators refuse to say. I don’t know what causes all of these crazy calls but it is destroying sports. As a Gamecock fam there were 2 or 3 questionable calls that changed the outcome of our game. The most blatant was the offensive pass interference call that even Herbstreit called out.

[@Atrox151]

It's a scary thought if universities can influence a ref's conduct or performance on the field in order to advance themselves in sports. I do believe there is a bias in favor of the large schools over the smaller "less significant" institutions.

[@CJK-bt4ll]

The CFB officials have gotten as bad as the NFL. It's ruining the games. Just call the obvious/big stuff. Let the ticky tack stuff go. Illegal formation, man downfield, WRs with a toe on the neutral zone...let it go. Total nonsense. Josh said it, consistency is the key.

[@govols1995]

Everyone finally experiencing what Tennessee has been dealing with for years now. Guess it took it happening to someone else for people to notice.

[@phillipwombacher9635]

There were a ton of BS holding calls in the Nebraska game against both teams

[@PurpleandGeauxld]

PREACH Brother!!

[@MrJoker-]

Every scoring play should be reviewed.