Georgia football: Controversial Alabama catch was reviewed, says SEC

On Saturday afternoon, Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs saw their chances of a historic championship three-peat come to an end with a 27-24 SEC Championship Game loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide that ultimately left them out of the College Football Playoff. Although in most years, Georgia likely would have still made the final four due to their undefeated regular season record, this season, the field of contenders was simply too deep for Smart and his team to be able to afford a loss.

The loss to Alabama did not occur without controversy. Toward the end of the first half, the Crimson Tide converted a fourth down when quarterback Jalen Milroe appeared to complete a pass to wide receiver Isaiah Bond for a first down. However, a replay clearly showed that the ball hit the ground and was not caught. Bulldogs fans were irate that the game was not stopped to review the play, especially considering that Alabama scored a touchdown just a few moments later.

Now, the SEC has claimed that the play actually was reviewed by the replay official, per Chip Towers of the AJC. This of course raises the question of how the officials missed a call that appeared so obviously incomplete upon review.

Of course, Georgia football made several mistakes of its own that contributed to the loss, but one can begin to understand Bulldogs fans' frustrations in that Alabama scored seven points that probably shouldn't have counted in what ended up as a three-point margin of victory.