Trevor Etienne, Georgia beats Quinn Ewers, No. 1 Texas: Live updates and reaction

Georgia coach Kirby Smart commented on an overturned pass interference call for No. 1 Texas in the third quarter of the Bulldogs’ win at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, saying, “They tried to rob us with calls.”

“I’m so proud of these guys because nobody believed,” Smart told ESPN sideline reporter Katie George after No. 5 Georgia’s 30-15 win. “Nobody gave us a chance. Your entire network doubted us. Nobody believed us. And then they tried to rob us in this place with calls. And these guys are so resilient.”

The incident occurred after Texas was cited for pass interference with three minutes left in the third quarter, negating an interception by the Longhorns’ Jahdae Barron and a 36-yard return that looked like a miscue on replay.

Texas fans threw debris onto the field after an interception was rejected due to pass interference.

The referees overturned the call after further discussion. pic.twitter.com/3PAgLcD1hQ

– ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2024

Officials stopped the game 12 seconds later when Texas students threw water bottles and trash onto the field.

As the trash came down, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and other team members walked to the corner of the end zone waving and telling students to stop. Cheerleaders and staff picked up the trash as the boos continued.

But after the interception, the officials ruled there was no pass interference and it would indeed be Texas’ ball.

“Well, I think someone had the courage to come forward and talk about the call,” ESPN rules analyst Bill LeMonnier said of the decision. “You know, they had a delay because of all the bottles on the field, but they got together and did the right thing.”

After the overturned call, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue on second and goal. The Longhorns cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 23-15, only for Georgia to respond with a touchdown on the next possession.

The Bulldogs, coming into the game as underdogs for the first time since their 2021 season opener – a 50-game span – had built a 23-0 halftime lead and ultimately held off the Longhorns’ second-half comeback.

Smart said officials called the passport interference “the wrong thing, which he realized only after a long time.”

He added: “I want to say that you have now set a precedent: If you throw a lot of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, you have a chance of having your call overturned.” And that’s unfortunate because for “It’s dangerous for me.”

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(Photo: Steve Limentani / ISI Photos / Getty Images)