WATCH: Refs appear to botch offside call on Georgia’s blocked punt in CFP title game
After a dominating first half of the National Championship Game, Georgia forced a three-and-out on Alabama’s first possession of the third quarter. But it wasn’t so simple from there.
Georgia then blocked the punt from J.K. Scott but was called for offside on the play. While a Bulldogs player moved first on the edge, video replay appears to show that he was onside at the time of the snap.
Decide for yourself:
It looks like Tyler Simmons was onside on this blocked punt…. pic.twitter.com/7EkFmnnXOS
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) January 9, 2018
This isn’t the only angle of the play, and some vantage points show that it is the correct call. Regardless, it is a tough break for the Bulldogs, who could have sealed the game with a touchdown had the block counted.
Instead, Alabama got off a clean punt and forced a three-and-out on UGA’s next possession. Then, freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the Tide to a touchdown drive, trimming Georgia’s lead to 13-7 with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter.