Mizzou Athletics requests formal review into officiating against Texas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Athletics announced Monday that it has requested a formal review by the Southeastern Conference of the officiating in the team's loss to No. 7 Texas on Saturday.

That request came after controversial officiating threw a shadow over the Tigers' 34-20 loss to the Longhorns. Specifically, there was one drive that drew quite a bit of attention in the third quarter, which ultimately led to a game-tying touchdown for Texas.

First, the refs called pass interference on cornerback Sione Laulea, which the TV broadcast deemed questionable. Then, just plays later, Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw the ball into the ground to avoid taking a sack and did not receive an intentional grounding call. Finally, it all came to a peak when an incomplete pass attempt by Manning was later overturned and ruled a fumble after a review, granting the Longhorns a pivotal first down.

The officials also received some heat from the fan base for calling back MU quarterback Austin Simmons' rushing touchdown early in the game, as well as how they handled downfield blocks on plays behind the line of scrimmage.

You can read Mizzou Athletics Director Laird Veatch's full letter to the fan, calling for an SEC review, base below.

"Tiger Nation,

I know and share your deep frustration and disappointment with how Saturday's football game played out. The stakes for these games have never been higher, and with that comes the responsibility for getting things right. 

To be clear, I don't believe in blaming or complaining about officiating. Officials are human, and mistakes are part of the game. Coaches and players have to respond to those moments and find ways to overcome adversity. That is why I greatly respect and appreciate how Coach Drinkwitz handled his postgame response with the media and his team.

I also believe in accountability and making necessary changes to improve.

After the game Saturday, we requested a formal review and response from the SEC regarding the officiating. Consistent with SEC expectations, we will not make those conversations or responses public, other than that we have not received anything inconsistent with what the conference has already shared publicly.

This experience has reinforced my belief that our lack of transparency in the replay booth, particularly when other conferences have taken steps to provide it, allows for an environment of speculation and mistrust. Together with President Choi, we will be strong advocates for that change within the SEC this offseason.

None of that changes Saturday's outcome. And as Coach Drinkwitz said, the game wasn't defined by one play or one call.

We also don’t want Saturday's result to overshadow what we've witnessed from this football program or what we’ve experienced together in Columbia. For the 25th consecutive game, Memorial Stadium was sold out. Once again, Coach Drinkwitz and his team have put us in a position to compete on the national stage into November in the toughest conference in America.

It's OK to acknowledge that Saturday hurt. In fact, our collective frustration and disappointment is evidence of how high our program expectations have elevated. 

Now let’s turn our attention to Georgia and the opportunities ahead, including two huge home games against Kentucky and Oklahoma. Our coaches and players deserve our support, and I know this fan base will continue to show up with the passion and pride that make Saturdays in CoMo so special.

M-I-Z!"