The Southeastern Conference criticized one of its officiating crews for missing a “hideout tactic” used on a touchdown pass by No. 11 Oklahoma in its 24-17 victory over No. 22 Auburn on Saturday afternoon in Norman, Okla.
The Sooners should have been assessed a 15-yard penalty for team unsportsmanlike conduct, according to an SEC statement late Saturday night. Instead, wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III was wide open when he scored on a 24-yard pass from John Mateer for a 10-3 lead with 10:45 left in the second quarter.
Sategna had jogged along the line of scrimmage toward the Sooners’ bench, seemingly headed out of the game — as if he was getting replaced with a substitution on second down. But Sategna stopped short of the sideline and lined up for the snap.
“No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents,” the SEC statement said, citing NCAA football rule 9-2, article 2, which is labeled “unfair tactics.”
“No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confess opponents,” the statement continued. “This includes any hideout tactic with or without a substitution. The officiating crew did not properly interpret the action as a hideout tactic. If properly officiated, the second down play should have resulted in a team unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of 15 yards assessed from the previous spot.”
The SEC added that “appropriate accountability will be applied” and that the conference will not make additional comments.
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze had a comment after the game, contending that the Tigers had tried to call timeout when they saw Sategna stay on the field but the officials said they didn’t hear them.
“We were instructed all offseason about deception plays and things. We’ll see what’s said. I really don’t know what will be said about that,” said Freeze, who added that “I better be quiet” to avoid getting a fine from the league for criticizing officials.
ESPN reported that Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said afterward that there was not deception and said the Sooners confirmed with an official that Sategna had properly lined up for the snap and that “everything was good and legal.”
Sategna had nine receptions for 127 yards in the teams’ conference opener, including the one touchdown as the Sooners improved to 4-0 overall and the Tigers dropped to 3-1.