Advertisement

Los Angeles Times columnist explores the idea that Pac-12, Big 12 might be punishing USC and Texas

Matt Zemek
·5 min read
117

Our story begins with a recollection of the night before Lincoln Riley was hired by USC.

The Oklahoma Sooners visited the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The winner would go to the Big 12 Championship game.

I watched that game live, not knowing that Lincoln Riley would be the head coach of USC 24 hours later (to be precise, fewer than 20 hours later).

In the second half, Oklahoma wasn’t necessarily wronged, but every 50-50 call went against the Sooners.

The reality that Oklahoma was heading for the SEC and leaving the Big 12 crossed my mind. Oklahoma fans and bloggers were thinking the same thing.

Fast-forward to another game at Oklahoma State involving the other Big 12 team about to leave for the SEC.

Columnist J. Brady McCollough of the Los Angeles Times explored the idea that the Big 12 is punishing the schools leaving for the SEC, and that the Pac-12 is punishing USC for leaving for the Big Ten.

Let’s dive into McCollough’s piece and add some other insights:

START HERE

McCollough begins his column:

By the end of the game in Stillwater, Okla. — a 41-34 win by the Cowboys that put to rest all the, “Hey, could the Longhorns make the playoff with two losses?” conversation — Texas led Oklahoma State by 14 penalties.

14-0.

CONTINUATION

McCollough:

Fourteen. To. Zero. As in, the Big 12 officials who called this game did not identify one Oklahoma State penalty during 60 minutes that wasn’t offset by a Texas flag.

NOT A FAN

McCollough:

I generally root against the establishment, and, while Oklahoma State has been a better program than Texas during the last decade, somehow the Longhorns were favored by six points on the road Saturday against the Cowboys, which means my watching lens was not going to be tinted burnt orange.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FLAG

McCollough:

But come on. Fourteen yellow flags to zero in a conference game officiated by conference referees? That’s going to draw a red flag.

THE USC CONNECTION

McCollough:

Maybe I’m just a little sensitive after my trip to Salt Lake City last weekend. USC fans know it as the one where the Trojans led Utah by 14 points three different times in the first half but lost to the Utes, 43-42, on a two-point conversion in the final minute.

BEING POLITE VS. BEING HONEST

McCollough:

USC head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game that the officiating was poor but made sure to say it wasn’t why the Trojans lost the game — it was the proper thing to say for a variety of reasons.

Still, if the Pac-12 officials don’t throw one of those flags, the Utes’ win probability drops dramatically.

LAYING OUT THE QUESTION

McCollough:

No, I could not make that premise the focus of my column because it simply had to be wrong. Pac-12 refs are just bad, right? Their ineptitude does not discriminate.

But then I saw Texas 14, Oklahoma State 0. And I had to wonder: Are Pac-12 and Big 12 officials making it extra hard on their departed?

GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT

McCollough:

I actually can’t fathom directives against USC, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma coming from the conference offices. What I’m suggesting is far more subtle.

Referees are people first, and most people who love the game enough to become college football refs were fans, too, before they decided to don the loathsome black and white stripes. They can try to eliminate their past leanings all they want, but that’s hard to do — especially when certain privileged schools’ decisions are negatively affecting all those left behind.

TWEETS FROM TEXAS

BETTING ANALYST

MATH

OTHERS ARE SAYING IT

A COMMON SENTIMENT

HISTORY

MORE NOTES

COLD

GIF TIME!

SUUUUUUUURE

THE FOLLOW-UP

WE REPORT, YOU DECIDE

CAPTURED ON TV

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire