In the third quarter of the game between No. 13 Alabama and No. 15 Ole Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a major officiating mistake occurred, affecting the outcome of the game. The Crimson Tide were trailing 7-6 and driving deep into the red zone when running back Roydell Williams gained a first down on a five-yard run to the 11-yard line. However, the down marker and chains did not move before the next snap. Due to this error, Coach Nick Saban, quarterback Jalen Milroe, and the staff mistakenly treated the next play as a third-and-inches instead of a first-and-10. As a result, Alabama had to settle for a field goal instead of potentially scoring a touchdown. It is unclear how the game would have unfolded if the officials had made the correct call, but the mistake was significant nonetheless.
During the broadcast, viewers could clearly see the confusion among the chain gang members when this series of events unfolded. While this error may not have determined the outcome of the game, it was a notable officiating mistake. It remains to be seen how the SEC office will address this issue after the game.
