Lincoln Riley was furious and USC football fans were ready to riot after Pac-12 refs had a costly mishap during the Arizona game.
Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff made a somewhat dubious statement this earlier this week claiming he hadn’t spoken to any USC fans who supported the Trojans leaving for the Big Ten.
He may want to take a look at Twitter to understand why there are indeed lots of Trojan fans who can’t wait to jump ship.
The Big Ten may not be perfect, but there are no Pac-12 refs there. And if there’s anyone USC fans hate right now, it’s Pac-12 refs.
The officials in charge of USC’s matchup with Arizona set a new low with their unbelievable mishandling of an end-of-half clock situation.
Ridiculous by refs on last 5 seconds and no one knows what’s happening! They started clock when Ref still over ball! #USC #Arizona pic.twitter.com/YNxPucfLQa
— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) October 30, 2022
Caleb Williams completed a pass down near the goal line with six seconds remaining in the first half. The clock stopped to move the chains with USC lined up and ready to spike the ball to set up a field goal or one last attempt into the endzone.
However, the clock started running before the referee set the ball. Williams tried pointing that out then desperately snapped the ball and tried to complete a pass with time expired.
The refs should have looked at the situation, reset the clock to six seconds and let the rest of the half playout as it would. Instead, they declared the half over.
Lincoln Riley was irate.
https://twitter.com/keelyismyname/status/1586520126118981632
He got to express his frustration with the refs on the field. Fans and media had to get their thoughts out on Twitter. And they were not happy.
USC football fans and media blast Pac-12 refs
Pac 12 Refs = BAD!!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) October 30, 2022
The Pac-12 has had plenty of referee disasters but the one to end the half at USC-Arizona now was beyond egregious. There were six seconds on the clock as the official stood over the ball and the clock operator in Tucson ran off the six seconds and refs said it was halftime. Wow!
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 30, 2022
PAC 12 refs do this time and again. USC could not snap it, clock started well before and they rob USC from at the very least getting 3 by FG . This is why USC is right in leaving . Traditions be damned
— USCarlos (@uscarlos) October 30, 2022
PAC 12 refs back at it again with this bullshit !!
— Su’a (@iammsuzy) October 30, 2022
This is why teams are leaving this shitty conference. The Pac-12 & their refs are a complete joke
— JustBombsProductions (@JBP_Official) October 30, 2022
Pac-12 refs putting on one of their typical clown shows is just one more reason USC is looking forward to moving to the Big Ten.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 30, 2022
Officiating isn’t perfect anywhere, but the Pac-12 refs are notorious for a reason.
It would appear that USC AD Mike Bohn has had enough of Pac-12 officiating pic.twitter.com/czlMSaXRrr
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 30, 2022
Some USC fans will claim there is a conspiracy. That’s what sports fans do. But there doesn’t need to be malice involved for a terrible call to impact a game. All it takes is incompetence and the Pac-12 has that in spades.
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