SEC Chief Blames TV Announcers, Not Referees, After Mizzou Upset
Commissioner Greg Sankey defended the officials who overturned two Missouri touchdowns, arguing that broadcast commentary created a misleading narrative about the game's officiating.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Missouri Tigers fans watched their team fall 34-20 to Texas on Saturday, a loss punctuated by three pivotal replay reviews and a controversial fumble call. The outcome shifted the momentum of the game, but the dispute over who was at fault has moved from the field to the broadcast booth.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey defended the conference's officials in an interview on Monday with 'The Paul Finebaum Show' on SEC Network. He pointed to the broadcast crews covering the game as the source of the backlash. The Tigers lost after the replay crew overturned two touchdowns and a reception that would have secured a first down inside the Texas red zone.
Sankey specifically targeted the commentary from ESPN analysts Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, and rules analyst Steve Shaw during the Mizzou-Texas matchup. He also cited a different game, Oklahoma at Florida, which was broadcast by Matt Schumacker and Aaron Murray. Sankey said he watched the Oklahoma-Florida game on Saturday night and found the commentary on the Mizzou-Texas officiating to be "flat wrong."
"I am highly disappointed in announcers and their criticism," Sankey said. "And they’re wrong. Some of the worst officials in America are those in the announcing booth." He argued that critics were evaluating calls from a noon game while watching a different contest at night, without ever questioning the officials directly.
The most disputed moment occurred late in the third quarter. A fumble was awarded to Texas for a 14-yard gain, leading to a 25-yard touchdown that tied the game. Mizzou fans believed the play should have been ruled an incomplete forward pass. That decision came immediately after officials did not flag Texas quarterback Arch Manning for intentional grounding.
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz kept his public comments brief, citing financial penalties for speaking out of turn. "If I say what I want to say, I’m going to get fined until I don’t have any retirement," Drinkwitz said. He declined to blame the officials, calling it disrespectful to Texas head coach Sarkisian and his team.
Sankey stated the SEC will take responsibility for errors and work to improve transparency in the replay system. The conference aims to establish a model for access and clarity, according to the commissioner. The replay center in Birmingham, Alabama, handled the reviews during the game in Columbia, Missouri.
