Was Tennessee football's onside kick vs Texas illegal? The SEC says yes
USA Today • • sports
Key Points:
- Tennessee's onside kick recovery against No. 1 Texas in Week 4 was incorrectly officiated, as the SEC announced the play should have resulted in a five-yard penalty and a replay of the down.
- The penalty occurred because Tennessee punter Jackson Ross drop-kicked the ball from behind the 35-yard line, which is against the rules, and he also changed his lateral position before the kick, both violations warranting a penalty.
- Despite the error, Tennessee nearly completed a dramatic comeback, with their final Hail Mary attempt defended by Texas as time expired.
- The SEC expressed regret over the officiating mistake and committed to working with NCAA officials to ensure consistent application of free-kick rules in the future.
- Texas coach Steve Sarkisian highlighted the ambiguity in the rules regarding the onside kick and called for clearer rulings to avoid similar confusion.
