College football narrowly avoided a big controversy at the end of the Tennessee Vols' win against the Florida Gators
There was nearly a major controversy at the end of the Tennessee Vols' win against the Florida Gators. But thanks to Vols running back Dylan Sampson, the controversy was avoided. After Florida missed a field goal on their possession in overtime, Tennessee quickly got close to the goal line, needing just a field goal to […]
There was nearly a major controversy at the end of the Tennessee Vols' win against the Florida Gators.
But thanks to Vols running back Dylan Sampson, the controversy was avoided.
After Florida missed a field goal on their possession in overtime, Tennessee quickly got close to the goal line, needing just a field goal to win the game.
Instead of trying to center the ball for a field goal, Tennessee handed the ball to Sampson, who appeared to find his way into the end zone. The officials, however, blew the play dead after they determined that Sampson's forward progress was stopped.
The only problem was that Sampson never stopped moving forward until he got to the end zone. Forward progress is a judgement call, which isn't reviewable.
Fortunately for the Vols, Sampson scored on the next play to end the game.
The botched forward progress call against Florida was reminiscent of the botched forward progress call that cost Tennessee a win against Purdue in the 2021 Music City Bowl.
It might be time for college football to consider allowing reviews on forward progress. If officials are equipped to make a judgement call in real time, surely they can make an even better judgement call with the benefit of replay.
