Former NFL Referee Calls Out 2 Conferences For Officiating Problems

12/02/2024 12:21 PM

A former NFL referee is calling out two major conferences for their officiating problems. 

Terry McAulay, a former NFL referee turned rules analyst for NBC Sports, is blasting the Big 12 and the SEC for their inconsistent rulings this season. 

The former NFL referee believes that the Big 12 and the SEC have "utter contempt" for the targeting rule. His comments stemmed from a play during the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game on Friday. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King fumbled after seemingly getting hit in the helmet by Georgia's Dan Jackson. However, no flag was thrown. 

McAulay believes that both the Big 12 and the SEC have major officiating problems.

"The failure to review and create a targeting foul here doesn't just ignore the rule, I'd go so far as to say SEC replay is showing utter contempt for the targeting rule," Terry McAulay said. "This has been happening all season around the country. It's clear the rules have to change. A model that penalizes without disqualification is long overdue."

TARGETING pic.twitter.com/1VaYY3mcsN

— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) November 30, 2024

McAulay also called out a play from the UCF vs. Utah game, in which targeting wasn't called.

Wow the refs said this was NOT targeting! Shocked! #UCFvsUtahpic.twitter.com/Oksm8I5FXL

— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) November 30, 2024

The targeting rule has been a controversial one since its establishment. It's meant to make the game safer, but it usually results in at least one or two controversial calls per game.

Clearly, the former NFL official turned rules expert believes that two major conferences have a big problem when it comes to making a ruling on the play.

We'll have to see if the college football world chooses to address the targeting rule in the offseason.