College Football World Reacts to Questionable Calls on Last Drive of FSU-Florida
The showdown in the Sunshine State between Florida and Florida State delivered big-time playmaking, tense moments and some questionable officiating in the final minutes.
As Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee roared with fans from both schools, the Gators needed a critical fourth-down conversion down deep in their own territory. The officials appeared to grant Florida an early Christmas gift when Seminoles defensive back Jarques McClellion was flagged on pass interference call that was questionable at best on fourth-and-18, giving Florida an automatic first down.
Florida State was called for pass interference on this play 👀
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 26, 2022
Agree or disagree?pic.twitter.com/8n0LOutCCM
With new life, Florida continued moving the ball behind the play of quarterback Anthony Richardson, who put together a series of completions and runs as the Gators marched down to the Seminoles’ 21-yard line before things stalled out to a fourth-and-12.
The refs missed a facemask penalty on 4th down... 😬
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 26, 2022
Florida - 38
Florida State - 45
Final. pic.twitter.com/rxjtHT1zRQ
With 39 seconds to play and the game on the line, Richardson rolled out of the pocket to his right looking to find an open wide receiver. In doing so, a Seminoles defender grabbed Richardson’s facemask, but it went unnoticed by the officials. The quarterback’s pass fell incomplete, and Florida State held on for the victory.
College football Twitter had plenty to say about the wild ending to the rivalry matchup. Here’s a look at some of the best reactions.
Didn't realize the official who threw the PI was 25 yards away.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 26, 2022
Who’s on color commentary for Florida-FSU? That was 100% PI. 😂
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 26, 2022
Do the bush league PI call and the missed face mask cancel out?
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 26, 2022
bad miss on the penalty but that PI never should have been called earlier so the ruling on the field is: FAIR.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 26, 2022
Funny officiating crew. Throw flag for bogus PI on 4th down. Swallow the flag on 4th down face mask.
— Dan Lucas (@WFLADan) November 26, 2022
Ref nowhere in position to see the facemask ends the worst defensive game in Florida-Florida State history 😂😂😂😂
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) November 26, 2022
The fact no one, AT ALL acknowledged that face mask is a lil strange, no?
— Chelsea Torres (@chelseatorrestv) November 26, 2022
Oh wow. Missed face mask that could have changed the game. You will hear about that one for quite some time.
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) November 26, 2022
So they call a soft DPI and miss a pretty clear facemask. Not great!
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 26, 2022
That’s an atrocious miss of a face mask call. Wow.
— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) November 26, 2022
*Whispers* Florida State is back.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 26, 2022
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