Texas A&M coaches, fans upset with Alabama clock operator following second-to-last play of narrow loss
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Texas A&M fell to Alabama in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, with a late attempt at a go-ahead touchdown coming up short.
It appeared Alabama had sealed the game with an interception, but a pass interference penalty was called in the end zone, putting the ball on the 2-yard line with 3 seconds left.
That’s when the Aggies ran an ill-fated final play, but there’s an argument to be made that A&M should have had time to run 2 quick plays to the end zone.
Indeed, per ESPN’s Chris Low, Texas A&M coaches were upset with officials that there weren’t 6 seconds left on the clock after the pass interference:
The main beef @AggieFootball’s staff had with officiating at the end was they said 6 seconds (instead of 3) should have been on the clock when the ball was downed in the end zone by @AlabamaFTBL after the Tide were penalized for pass interference.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) October 9, 2022
Fans on social media were also upset with the oversight. Here are some of the reactions from Twitter:
someone tell me where those 3 seconds went pic.twitter.com/ylHtGCDoSz
— Barstool Texas A&M (@BarstoolTexasAM) October 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/502dMP/status/1578977393972477953
Texas a&m should have had 5 seconds on the game clock on that last play . Alabama defender took a knee in the end zone with 5 seconds . Huge miss . They could have ran two plays @AggieFootball @DeanBlandino @GeneSteratore
— Undercover official (@undercoverref1) October 9, 2022
SEC officials & Alabama clock operator just potentially cost Texas A&M a shot at an upset. Watch the clock after Int & takes a knee. PI on the play. So 5 sec should be on clock, time for 2 plays. But somehow only 3 secs & A& M gets one play & loses 24-20. No excuse for this! pic.twitter.com/FxCmSwt9q8
— Dan Coccimiglio (@NCalSportsNetWK) October 9, 2022
Alabama defense knees the ball with 6 seconds left. Clock was never reset to 6 seconds. Big miss by the officials and coaching staff for not asking that to be looked at. #Bama #texasaggies
— Joey (@ohiosports111) October 9, 2022
Jordan Battle kneeled with 5-6 seconds left. Clock only had 3 seconds on that last play. pic.twitter.com/dDJ09XRP7A
— Joseph Michael (@RegalMill388) October 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/iNickWinchester/status/1578952424739721219
We’ll see if any statements are issued by the league office this coming week, but for now, it’s too late. Should the Aggies have had perhaps another attempt at a game-winning touchdown? The argument could certainly be made.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
