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The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 7:48 pm
by RefWatch
I'm usually not the "grrr officials" type, and clearly officiating can't be blamed for a lot of what happened Monday night. Some of the officiating has really been bugging me though. A 3rd and 4 in the 3rd Quarter seemed like it was spotted short, but they were given a first down. So I went back and took a closer look.
1st and 10
The ball is at the 43.5 yardline. 10 yards forward would be the 33.5 yardline.
2nd and 10
Confirmation of the LOS after the incomplete pass being the 43.5 yardline.
3rd and 4
The official spots the ball at the 34 and immediately calls for the chains to move, giving ISU a first down.
But the Line to Gain was the 33.5, so he spotted the ball short, and then gave a first down anyway without even checking where a first down would be.
The same official is even the one who spotted the ball at the 43.5 the previous set of downs.
I can understand some penalties being missed or some weird subjective calls, but this just feels like it was *objectively* officiated incorrectly.
This seem weird to anyone else? (Once again, not just trying to whine about officiating, but this feels like something that is just plain wrong.)
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:05 pm
by 91catAlum
Funny you point this out. During the game I texted my buddy "apparently ISU only needs 9 yards for a 1st down" on this very series.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:19 pm
by CatBlitz
91catAlum wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:05 pm
Funny you point this out. During the game I texted my buddy "apparently ISU only needs 9 yards for a 1st down" on this very series.
I said that at LEAST 3 separate times. Wtf were they looking at.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:32 pm
by Team10
Not sure which side had the officials markers but we noticed the same thing. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe the yellow line was a half yard further than it was supposed to be but this evidence shows otherwise.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:35 pm
by RyeCat
Let’s talk about the one false start on the tackle where not a whisker was moved. I’m not even suggesting that the other eight couldn’t have been legit, but that one wasn’t. Also, the fumble TD.
…and while we’re on the subject. What the hell happened with the targeting penalty? They called it, reviewed it and then never said a word about it. Blew the whistle and started play.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:41 pm
by CatBlitz
RyeCat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:35 pm
Let’s talk about the one false start on the tackle where not a whisker was moved. I’m not even suggesting that the other eight couldn’t have been legit, but that one wasn’t. Also, the fumble TD.
…and while we’re on the subject. What the hell happened with the targeting penalty? They called it, reviewed it and then never said a word about it. Blew the whistle and started play.
YES. One thing for all of the other false starts but that one was egregiously stupid.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:43 pm
by Cataholic
RyeCat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:35 pm
Let’s talk about the one false start on the tackle where not a whisker was moved. I’m not even suggesting that the other eight couldn’t have been legit, but that one wasn’t. Also, the fumble TD.
…and while we’re on the subject. What the hell happened with the targeting penalty? They called it, reviewed it and then never said a word about it. Blew the whistle and started play.
On the TV replay, the announcers actually said that they didn’t see any false start.
I do believe the targeting penalty was applied with yards, but there was no confirmation announcement or ejection announcement.
And how does the crew get picked? These guys were a specific crew from the Southland?
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:44 pm
by Cataholic
RefWatch wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 7:48 pm
I'm usually not the "grrr officials" type, and clearly officiating can't be blamed for a lot of what happened Monday night. Some of the officiating has really been bugging me though. A 3rd and 4 in the 3rd Quarter seemed like it was spotted short, but they were given a first down. So I went back and took a closer look.
1st and 10
The ball is at the 43.5 yardline. 10 yards forward would be the 33.5 yardline.
2nd and 10
Confirmation of the LOS after the incomplete pass being the 43.5 yardline.
3rd and 4
The official spots the ball at the 34 and immediately calls for the chains to move, giving ISU a first down.
But the Line to Gain was the 33.5, so he spotted the ball short, and then gave a first down anyway without even checking where a first down would be.
The same official is even the one who spotted the ball at the 43.5 the previous set of downs.
I can understand some penalties being missed or some weird subjective calls, but this just feels like it was *objectively* officiated incorrectly.
This seem weird to anyone else? (Once again, not just trying to whine about officiating, but this feels like something that is just plain wrong.)
This was an awesome breakdown! Well done and would love to see more!
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:45 pm
by Cataholic
CatBlitz wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:19 pm
91catAlum wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:05 pm
Funny you point this out. During the game I texted my buddy "apparently ISU only needs 9 yards for a 1st down" on this very series.
I said that at LEAST 3 separate times. Wtf were they looking at.
Some of the spots were truly mind boggling!
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:52 pm
by coloradocat
I noticed more than once that if the ball was within a half yard (or more) the ref would just run to the 1st down marker and spot the ball there. I guess that's easier than watching the ball.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 10:00 pm
by tdub
Cataholic wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:43 pm
RyeCat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:35 pm
Let’s talk about the one false start on the tackle where not a whisker was moved. I’m not even suggesting that the other eight couldn’t have been legit, but that one wasn’t. Also, the fumble TD.
…and while we’re on the subject. What the hell happened with the targeting penalty? They called it, reviewed it and then never said a word about it. Blew the whistle and started play.
On the TV replay, the announcers actually said that they didn’t see any false start.
I do believe the targeting penalty was applied with yards, but there was no confirmation announcement or ejection announcement.
And how does the crew get picked? These guys were a specific crew from the Southland?
The player was ejected. The ref’s mic wasn’t working and they got it fixed between quarters, but he gave the heave-ho signal.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 10:43 pm
by RefWatch
Cataholic wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 9:44 pm
RefWatch wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 7:48 pm
~snip
This was an awesome breakdown! Well done and would love to see more!
Thanks! The officiating felt super off to me all game and I wanted to confirm that I wasn't just overreacting. Being able to pull actual images out to prove there was an issue helps.
I'm sure there's some more stuff too, this was just the most outrageous. Penalties are way harder to show clear problems, as there can be a lot of wiggle room in what was/wasn't seen, but things like knowing the line to gain is such an officiating basic. It's wild you can use clear photo evidence to point out a crew in the National Championship failing to follow the most simple rules.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:53 pm
by technoCat
Was it the 3rd and 25 where Crews blew by the tackle and he grabbed him by the back of his neck pad and yanked him down. Should have been ejected as that was not the first time.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:10 pm
by CelticCat
When the two opposing line judges walked onto the field with their spot, they were off so many times. Which isn't abnormal necessarily but if I'm noticing it, that means it was sticking out. Their spots were atrocious all night, I commented several times to fans around me. One time they straight walked it back 2 yards after the teams were set, which was the correct call but the fact that it was 2 whole yards off because one LJ said it was there was awful to begin with.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:14 pm
by CodyCat
Well, I thought their QB picked up the first down late in the 4th that forced the field goal try. So, maybe it all worked out???
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:15 pm
by ZebraCat
CelticCat wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:10 pm
When the two opposing line judges walked onto the field with their spot, they were off so many times. Which isn't abnormal necessarily but if I'm noticing it, that means it was sticking out. Their spots were atrocious all night, I commented several times to fans around me. One time they straight walked it back 2 yards after the teams were set, which was the correct call but the fact that it was 2 whole yards off because one LJ said it was there was awful to begin with.
It is abnormal, because one of the biggest most important parts of officiating as a LOS wing, is mirroring your partner opposite. The Line Judge didn't mirror the Head Linesman all night. Every spot that was the H's spot, the LJ was at least 1, if not 2 yards ahead of him and the Center Judge or Umpire spotting the ball was having a very difficult time when looking at them both. Really terrible mechanics by the Line Judge in that game. Some of the worst I've ever seen. High school officials mirror better than that guy did.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:32 pm
by CelticCat
ZebraCat wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:15 pm
CelticCat wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:10 pm
When the two opposing line judges walked onto the field with their spot, they were off so many times. Which isn't abnormal necessarily but if I'm noticing it, that means it was sticking out. Their spots were atrocious all night, I commented several times to fans around me. One time they straight walked it back 2 yards after the teams were set, which was the correct call but the fact that it was 2 whole yards off because one LJ said it was there was awful to begin with.
It is abnormal, because one of the biggest most important parts of officiating as a LOS wing, is mirroring your partner opposite. The Line Judge didn't mirror the Head Linesman all night. Every spot that was the H's spot, the LJ was at least 1, if not 2 yards ahead of him and the Center Judge or Umpire spotting the ball was having a very difficult time when looking at them both. Really terrible mechanics by the Line Judge in that game. Some of the worst I've ever seen. High school officials mirror better than that guy did.
Yup, two stubborn guys thinking they were right.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:34 pm
by lutecat
Even Shaun Rainey tweeted that the officiating seemed odd.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:09 pm
by Bobcat Sig
'Odd' is a kind way of putting.
The fumble-forward for a TD still baffles me.
Re: The NC Officiating in 4 Images
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:14 pm
by coloradocat
Bobcat Sig wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:09 pm
'Odd' is a kind way of putting.
The fumble-forward for a TD still baffles me.
That one got me too. Is that just an NFL rule that the offense can't advance the ball on a fumble?