Alabama’s 30-24 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday wasn’t without controversy. Not by a long shot (or, Ole Miss fans will contend, a shot to the head).
The ninth-ranked Crimson Tide eked out a 30-24 victory over the 11th-ranked Rebels thanks to two Ole Miss turnovers on downs in its final two offensive possessions. Those drives book-ended an Alabama drive that resulted in a 49-yard field goal by Will Reichard, forcing Ole Miss to go for a touchdown in the game’s waning moments.
However, officials missed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner on the Rebels’ previous offensive possession โ one that could have changed the outcome of the game. The infraction occurred after Turner hit quarterback Jaxson Dart for no gain, giving Alabama possession from its 41-yard line:
Alabama gets the 4th down sack! pic.twitter.com/FaSRCmdQpn
โ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐ช @๐๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ณ (@FTBeard7) November 12, 2022
Dallas Turner was L-U-C-K-Y the refs missed thisโฆ
Sack on 4th and 8 could have been 15 yards inside the Bama 30. pic.twitter.com/QrHqzNxhTR
โ Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) November 12, 2022
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Because the would-be penalty occurred after the turnover on downs, Alabama would have retained possession. Instead of taking over at their 41-yard line, however, the Crimson Tide would have taken over at their own 26.
It’s impossible to say the change in field position would have affected the game’s outcome. Ole Miss had one final chance to win the game and came up just short:
This is some clutch coverage from Brian Branch to secure the win for @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/az7izUEvuK
โ SEC on CBS ๐ (@SEConCBS) November 13, 2022
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Turner was called for a blatant facemask penalty on Dart earlier in the game, one in which he ripped the quarterback’s helmet off on a third-and-18 would-be sack.
Safe to say this face mask penalty led to an Ole Miss TD. The Rebels lead the Crimson Tide, 24-17, in the 3rd ๐ฌ
๐ฅ: @CFBONFOXpic.twitter.com/QcSAwaXSUf
โ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ (@sportingnews) November 12, 2022
The officiating crew also had some questionable missed calls on both sides of the ball, including a missed neutral-zone infraction on Ole Miss, pass interference on Alabama and prematurely blowing a play dead on a would-be fumble recovery for a touchdown.
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