Referees are part of the game. When you’re on the field as a player, you have to avoid them or you’re liable to have a play turn out strange.

That’s what happened on Saturday during the Kansas State-Texas game. While trying to avoid a receiver and a defensive back, a referee couldn’t get out of the way of the ball.

As you can see below, a pass from the Kansas State quarterback drilled the ref right in the top of the head:

On a cold December afternoon, you know that has to hurt quite a bit. Kansas State won’t feel too much sympathy for him, though, since he broke up a pass attempt.

At least put the pass breakup on the ref’s stat sheet!