The Referee Who Could Decide the Fate of the College Football Playoff
As the College Football Playoff prepares to kick off, a crucial factor has come to light that could significantly impact the outcome of the marquee game between Tennessee and Ohio State. Meet Jerry Magallanes, the ACC referee who will be calling the shots on Saturday night. While his name may not ring a bell, his résumé is filled with controversy and questionable decisions that have left fans and players alike scratching their heads.
A History of Questionable Calls
One of the most egregious examples of Magallanes’s incompetence came in the 2021 Music City Bowl, where he and his crew denied Tennessee a clear touchdown in overtime. Despite Jaylen Wright’s obvious score, the officials claimed that his forward progress was stopped before crossing the goal line, a call that was not reviewable. To add insult to injury, the crew pretended to review the play, further infuriating fans and players.
A Pattern of Inconsistency
But that’s not all. Magallanes was also at the center of the infamous 2015 Miami-Duke game, where he and his crew allowed an eight-lateral kick return to stand, despite a clear block in the back and a player being down before releasing the ball. The fallout from that game led to Magallanes and his crew being suspended by the ACC. And just this season, he was involved in another botched call, this time in the Miami-Virginia Tech game, where a Hail Mary touchdown was initially awarded, then overturned after a lengthy review.
A Recipe for Disaster
Given Magallanes’s track record, it’s hard not to wonder if his assignment to the Tennessee-Ohio State game is more than just a coincidence. Will his incompetence be weaponized to favor the home team, Ohio State? It’s a possibility that can’t be ignored. After all, someone of Magallanes’s caliber is unlikely to make calls that go against the Buckeyes in their own backyard.
Tennessee’s Uphill Battle
As Tennessee prepares to take on Ohio State, they’ll need to be aware of the added challenge that Magallanes presents. It won’t be enough to just beat the Buckeyes; they’ll need to overcome the referee’s biases and questionable calls as well. But if anyone can do it, it’s the Volunteers. They’ve been waiting for three years to take down Magallanes, and what better way to do it than alongside a victory over Ohio State?
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