WATCH: Failed to detonate a punt, SEC umpires admit making a critical mistake that helped Memphis beat Mississippi State



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USATSI

Memphis dominated Mississippi State 31-29 on Saturday afternoon, coming out of a 17-7 hole at halftime. However, this victory came with a little help from SEC officials.

The defining play came with 5:36 left in the fourth quarter when Tigers wide receiver Calvin Austin III returned a 93-yard punt for a touchdown to give his team a 28-17 lead. However, the punt return should never have counted. Two Mississippi state players touched the ball before Austin picked it up and brought it home, but a field decision from the back judge should have blown the game up.

In response, the SEC released a statement on Saturday night explaining what should have happened on the game’s biggest play.

“At 5:58 in the fourth quarter of Mississippi State’s game in Memphis, Mississippi State kicks the ball into the field where the loose ball hits several players on the team before a player on the home team picks up the ball. and sends it back for a touchdown. ”the statement read. “The kicked ball remained alive under the rule since it was not possessed by a player and did not lie within bounds without any player attempting to secure it. On play, the judge back gave a single “stop the clock” signal immediately after the receiving team possessed the ball. The inadvertent signal aspect of play is reviewable and the replay should have stopped play to examine a potential unintentional signal. Subsequent review would have placed the ball where the signal was given. “

Here’s a replay of the game-changing game that never should have been.

To make matters worse, Memphis committed a penalty on the game that was not called. “On the same play, two Memphis players were number 4, which is a violation and should have resulted in a five-yard penalty for Memphis,” the statement said.



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