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CFB Fans Baffled After Controversial Texas DPI Penalty Overturned By Refs vs. Georgia

Zach BacharContributor IOctober 20, 2024

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Jahdae Barron #7 of the Texas Longhorns intercepts a pass intended for Lawson Luckie #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Fans were confused following a controversial defensive pass interference ruling during No. 1 Texas' matchup with No. 5 Georgia on Saturday.

Near the end of the third quarter, Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck threw a pass that was picked off by Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron. However, Barron was flagged on the play.

Texas fans threw bottles and other trash onto the field to protest the call, resulting in a delay as head coach Steve Sarkisian attempted to calm down the crowd. Officials determined that there was no penalty on the play when the game resumed, though. Texas retained the ball.

ESPN @espn

Texas fans threw debris onto the field after an interception was called back due to pass interference.<br><br>The refs reversed the call after further discussion. <a href="https://t.co/3PAgLcD1hQ">pic.twitter.com/3PAgLcD1hQ</a>

Fans and pundits on social media were perplexed by the situation.

Dov Kleiman @NFL_DovKleiman

THEY JUST OVERTURNED IT!!<br><br>WHAT IS HAPPENING??<a href="https://t.co/oikos3rq0y">pic.twitter.com/oikos3rq0y</a> <a href="https://t.co/NV27ErjgOP">https://t.co/NV27ErjgOP</a>

Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger

If Texas students don't do this, Georgia gets ball possession. The officials had announced and marked the ball ready for play for the Bulldogs.<br><br>What a truly insane series of events. <a href="https://t.co/59avNVRYv0">https://t.co/59avNVRYv0</a>

Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger

Holy crap. Officials just overturned the pass interference after conferring with one another while the game was paused to pick up the trash that students tossed on the field. <br><br>Kirby Smart is losing it. It's a mess at DRK.

Pete Thamel @PeteThamel

This PI call overturn is going to be talked about for a L-O-N-G time. It appears to be the right call, but man that's a rare on-field reversal.

Pat Forde @ByPatForde

Welp, that call has now been overturned. It's not a reviewable play, so that's interesting. <a href="https://t.co/krvj0dGmo3">https://t.co/krvj0dGmo3</a>

tdavis234 @tdavis234

Then they just reverse the DPI call on Texas??!!?? <a href="https://t.co/bCQckr2aFA">pic.twitter.com/bCQckr2aFA</a>

Ben Gretch @YardsPerGretch

I'm sorry that right there is EXACTLY why DPI needs to be reviewable. You got refs flat out going "I don't care if you criticize how we got there, we're breaking the rules because we don't want our bad call to be the story."<br><br>That mechanism just needs to be there.

N I C O L E @AttorneyNicole

Amazed that somehow Texas was able to manage to get a (non-reviewable) DPI call reviewed and reversed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/bDmKlvSq7W">pic.twitter.com/bDmKlvSq7W</a>

Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart was visibly frustrated with officials on the sideline after the penalty was reversed.

The game was already eventful prior to the controversy, as Georgia jumped out to an early 23-0 lead in the first half. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was briefly replaced by backup Arch Manning due to a slow start on offense, although Ewers was inserted back into the game after halftime.

Texas scored on its first drive of the third quarter and capitalized on Beck's interception, as Jaydon Blue hauled in a 17-yard receiving touchdown to cut the deficit to 23-15.

The Longhorns entered the game with a 6-0 record to begin the season, which included impressive wins over Michigan and Oklahoma.

As for the Bulldogs, they opened the year ranked No. 1 in the first Associated Press Top 25 poll and won each of their first three games. However, they were eventually knocked out of the top spot following a narrow 41-34 loss to No. 7 Alabama on Sept. 28. Smart's team has won two consecutive games following the defeat.

With both teams searching for a statement win, a major possession change was decided following an extended period in between plays due to debris thrown onto Campbell-Williams Field.