Tennessee reaction: Fans, media weigh in on end of Music City Bowl

Tennessee’s controversial Music City Bowl loss is the talk of Twitter. Fans and media members alike feel the Volunteers were the victims of a bad call by the officiating crew.

With a score of 45-45, the game went to overtime. Tennessee got the ball and Josh Heupel elected to go for it twice on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal. The final fourth-and-goal was from 1 yard out. Jaylen Wright extended the ball over the goal line but it was ruled his forward progress had already stopped.

Tennessee was denied a TD after this play was ruled a turnover on downs: pic.twitter.com/ma8Gs9wZzM

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2021

Officiating experts offered the explanation that replay review could not change the forward progress call. Many pointed out that his progress did not appear to be stopped.

Here’s a sample of what’s being said:

Tennessee got jobbed.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 31, 2021

That is one of the worst calls I've seen in the history of college football.

Absolute garbage in the Music City Bowl.

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) December 31, 2021

Here’s the thing – his forward progress can’t be stopped because he KEPT PROGRESSING FORWARD INTO THE END ZONE pic.twitter.com/faA3HeiFRM

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 31, 2021

If that is not a TD then they need to cancel replay.

— jay greeson (@jgreesontfp) December 31, 2021

OK. And the ruling was embarrassingly wrong. His forward progress did not stop. https://t.co/bM1b49sUS8

— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) December 31, 2021

Even though he was still driving forward and scored a touchdown? A lazy ref who didn’t blow his whistle until after the score is right because he thinks he is? https://t.co/F8zxqeIsVY

— Houston Kress (@VolRumorMill) December 31, 2021

Is that why the side judge was running in and pointing to his hip to signify the runners hip was down (which replay showed it wasn’t)? Is that a normal gesture when forward progress has been stopped? #MusicCityBowl https://t.co/NTirO4StsK

— Jacob Hester (@JacobHester18) December 31, 2021

Wow. That’s a TD man.

— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) December 31, 2021

Maybe Tennessee should take a cue from NC State and still count it as a win. https://t.co/Fy5HSCp58g

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 31, 2021

That was a rather obvious TouchDAHN

Wowwwwwwwwwww

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 31, 2021

HOLD OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE @NCAA

— FQ Tennessee (@FQVols) December 31, 2021

Unbelievable❗️❗️❗️ https://t.co/JajP81RaSf

— Emmanuel Moseley (@Mannymoseley) December 31, 2021

As an alumni of the Music City Bowl, I am sick to my stomach.

— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) December 31, 2021

“The whistle is not relevant” from a former referee is a WILD take. https://t.co/pephbqxn4k

— Austin Burlage (@CoachBurlage) December 31, 2021

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.