National media outlet says the LSU Tigers benefited from one of the worst officiating calls of the 2024 college football season
Earlier this month, On3 detailed the 10 worst officiating calls of the 2024 college football season. And one of the calls they highlighted benefitted the LSU Tigers in a big way. If you're an LSU fan, you probably already know which one they're talking about. Early in the 2024 season, LSU won a close game […]
Earlier this month, On3 detailed the 10 worst officiating calls of the 2024 college football season.
And one of the calls they highlighted benefitted the LSU Tigers in a big way.
If you're an LSU fan, you probably already know which one they're talking about.
Early in the 2024 season, LSU won a close game against the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia.
LSU trailed South Carolina 33-29 with a little over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. With the Tigers facing a third-and-11 from the Gamecocks' 13-yard line, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
The touchdown, however, ended up being wiped off the board due to a personal foul penalty on South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard, who pushed Nussmeier during the return.
The interception stood, but instead of going up 40-29 with six minutes remaining in the game, South Carolina got the ball on their own 10-yard line while still leading 33-29.
South Carolina ended up going three-and-out and punting the ball back to LSU. The Tigers would go on to score what proved to be the game-winning touchdown after an eight play drive that resulted in a Josh Williams rushing touchdown.
On3 ranked the personal foul call on Kennard as the No. 2 worst officiating call of the year.
From On3: “What the heck is going on with the roughing the passers?” former ESPN commentator David Pollack said about the call. “They make an unbelievable play, (Kyle) Kennard gets to him and hits him, basically forces an INT, forces him to throw the football. Then he touches him. Like he gives him a little touch and it’s a 15-yard penalty. I’m not sure what you want him to do.”
The call was what it was, so there's no point in arguing it too much. I'm sure South Carolina fans feel like it was a bad call and most LSU fans probably feel like it was the right call.
What I do know, however, is that there isn't a fan base in the country that would've been happy if that had been called against their team and wiped a touchdown off the board.
Something else to point out, though, is that South Carolina still had a chance to put the game away. If they go on a long scoring drive after the interception, they likely win the game. And even if they go on a drive that ends with a field goal, they still would've been up by seven points. The Gamecocks' defense also had the chance to stop LSU, but they instead gave up an eight-play drive that ended with a touchdown.
