Did refs rob Alabama against Georgia? That's debatable, and that's the problem

Georgia–Alabama delivered.

These teams looked the part of being national championship contenders and SEC front-runners.

Too bad the officials got in the way of a good game, inserting controversy into Georgia’s 20-17 victory at Alabama.

Georgia won this round, and don’t be surprised if these teams meet again in the SEC Championship in December or in the College Football Playoff. Hopefully, we’ll be spared of officiating gaffes in those possible rematches.

On this edition of “College Football Unfiltered,” a USA TODAY Sports podcast presented by Sports Seriously, host Blake Toppmeyer and his colleagues John Brice and Matt Hayes serve up analysis of Georgia’s win and its ascent to No. 1, and they debate whether the officials cost Alabama the game.

Later in the episode, they discuss whether Arch Manning or Steve Sarkisian is the bigger factor holding back Texas. Hayes makes the case that the answer is neither.

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But, on the subject of Georgia-Alabama …

Did the officials cost Alabama the game against Georgia?

Hayes: I’ve never been one of those guys who says, “Never mind that one call, Alabama had other chances to win it.” Well, if the officials had called pass interference, Alabama might have won it, so are we supposed to ignore that? The reality is, the SEC needs better officials who don’t miss that call. Or, change the rules so pass intereference can be assessed with instant replay. I don’t know why we haven’t gotten to that point, either in college football or the NFL. Send that to a replay booth, and it’s clearly assessed as pass inteference. There’s way too much on the line with these games, including big money, to just collectively shrug the shoulders and say, well, maybe they missed that one. If they missed it, send it to a replay booth to correct it. You’ve got to get that call correct.

Brice: While covering the game, I happened to be standing near where the play unfolded at the corner of the end zone. It absolutely should have been flagged. I could not believe it wasn’t called, and it would have set up Alabama with first-and-10 inside the red zone. Alabama had been cooking that possession, but it didn’t respond well to the no-call and fell apart. I don’t know whether it cost Alabama the game. We’ll never know, because the penalty wasn’t called. My bigger issue is, how many times during this college football season have we exited a weekend having to talk about the officials? Way too many blunders. College football is a professional operation now, and yet it can’t seem to fix its officiating issues.

Toppmeyer: First, officials overturned an Alabama interception of Gunner Stockton. That overturn seemed debatable. But, that no-call on the pass interference didn’t even look debatable. It was a total whiff. I’m not ready to say Alabama would have won the game if that call would have been made, but the point is, we just don’t know what would have happened if that flag had come out for pass interference. It’s a shame that it didn’t, because I think it was an obvious blown call, and so we’re left talking about that after what was otherwise a great game between two of the nation’s best teams. Few opponents emerge from Bryant-Denny Stadium victorious, but, here’s my other question: Why is Alabama ranked No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll? Did it not show enough to climb in the polls, even in defeat?

Georgia is No. 1, so is Alabama underrated at No. 7?

Hayes: Why didn’t Alabama move up in the polls? Easy answer to that. Because, poll voters are dumb. Is that putting it too bluntly? When a team wins, it goes up in the polls. When it loses, it goes down. Or, at best, it stays put. That’s how the polls work, for better or worse. While we’re on poll controversies, what business do BYU and Texas Tech have still being in the top 10? Oh, wait, they’re undefeated. Polls are all about record.

Brice: I like the polls, and I like the debate they generate. So, I’m not going to blast the polls too much. I will say, what I saw Saturday night was hands down the two best teams I’ve seen this year, and I thought it was pretty convincing. After Georgia and Alabama, I probably would have Notre Dame and Ohio State as the next two. This is a worthy debate about the polls, but the more important reality is both Georgia and Alabama could wind up with top-four seeds in the playoff, which would mean a bye into the playoff quarterfinals.

Toppmeyer: I know why Texas is ranked ahead of Alabama in the Coaches Poll: Because, Texas rallied to beat Ohio State in Week 2. But, does anyone think the Texas team we’ve seen the last few weeks would’ve played Georgia to a three-point game last weekend? Not a chance. I’d have Alabama ahead of Texas. In fact, put the Tide in the top five.

Where to listen to College Football Unfiltered

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports’ “College Football Unfiltered” podcast, hosted by columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream episodes on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts, Spotify or iHeart. Cohosts Matt Hayes, Paul Myerberg and John Brice cover college football for USA TODAY Sports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did refs rob Alabama against Georgia? That’s debatable, and that’s the problem