Every fanbase feels like the officials are unfairly out to get their team. Questionable calls are amplified when you have an allegiance to the school on the wrong end of it. Contrary to a popular narrative of of bitter rival fanbases that have been on the wrong side of too many Alabama beatdowns over the years, the Crimson Tide has had more than its fair share of questionable calls go against them.
On3 released a list of the 10 worst officiating calls of the 2024 college football season. Unsurprisingly, according to Pete Nakos, a call that went against the Crimson Tide made the Top 10.
Coming in at No. 8 on the list was the negated touchdown for Ryan Williams in the fourth quarter of Alabama's eventual 24-3 loss to Oklahoma in Norman, the defeat that ultimately cost the Crimson Tide a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Williams hauled in an acrobatic touchdown from Jalen Milroe on a 4th down play with 14 minutes to play in the game. The touchdown was negated due to an illegal touching call made by the officials who said that Williams was "covered up" at the line of scrimmage. The call even left rules analyst Bill Lemonnier baffled along with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit in the booth.
A closer look at the illegal touching penalty called on Ryan Williams on 4th down early in the 4th quarter of Alabama’s 24-3 loss at Oklahoma.
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) November 24, 2024
According to the official, Williams was “covered up” at the snap. Rules analyst Bill Lemonnier was “perplexed” at the call. pic.twitter.com/Gv55kWNyif
Frankly, this call being ranked No. 8 is way too low on the list. It's as bad of a call as I've ever seen in all the years I've been watching football. It completely negated any comeback opportunity the Crimson Tide had in this game.
Alabama probably loses anyway - and they certainly deserved to with as poorly as they played throughout - but cutting it to a two-touchdown game with 14 minutes left changes the complexion of the ballgame. Maybe Alabama stages a miraculous comeback. Maybe that touchdown would have been the only additional points scored and they still lose by two touchdowns.
It's impossible to know. All that is known is that the refs took the game out of the players' hands and ended any hope Alabama had of a come-from-behind victory with a horrendous penalty.