CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore argued Saturday that the officials in the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia got a call wrong before halftime.
Alabama took a 17-7 lead into halftime of the conference championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday. Bama was aided by a call on a 4th-and-4 play from the Georgia 37 with over a minute left in the first half.
The Crimson Tide were leading 10-7 with 1:25 left and Jalen Milroe threw down the right side of the field to Isaiah Bond, who was credited with a diving/tumbling catch on a close play.
Did Isaiah Bond make this catch?
On a 4th-and-4, should this have been reviewed?#CollegeFootball #SECChampionship #Bama #rolltide #georgiabulldogs pic.twitter.com/RZjchyMtgT
— SelloutSports (@SelloutSportsCo) December 2, 2023
Replays showed that Bond was aided by the ground, but the officials did not review the play.
Steratore came on during CBS’ halftime break and said that he thought the play should have been reviewed and the call changed.
The ball contacting the ground does not unequivocally determine if a pass should be ruled complete or not.
However, when loss of possession occurs as the ball contacts the ground, the ground is essentially aiding the receiver in the process of the catch.
In #ALAvsUGA, I… pic.twitter.com/pWHYmq7lkj
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) December 2, 2023
Had that been ruled an incomplete pass, Georgia would have taken over possession at their 37 with over a minute left in the half. Instead, Bama was credited with a first down and scored a big touchdown two plays later to go up 17-7.
