During Saturday’s SEC clash between Auburn and Georgia, officials made a contentious call that potentially cost the Tigers a touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, Auburn found themselves at the Bulldogs’ 1-yard line. Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold surged into the end zone, but Georgia’s defense knocked the ball loose just as it crossed the goal line.

Although it seemed Arnold maintained possession when the ball crossed the line, the referees ruled the play a fumble. Georgia recovered the ball as a result of this ruling.

In the ensuing chaos, Georgia defensive back Kyron Jones took the ball and sprinted back to their end zone. However, officials halted the play, despite Jones never having been downed.

The controversial decision frustrated both teams, as fans from each side believed their team had secured a touchdown.

“If it was a fumble, why didn’t the play continue?” commentator Sean McDonough asked on the ESPN broadcast, though the broadcast team ultimately thought part of the ball crossed the ball line, which would have made it an Auburn touchdown. “He has the ball, he is across the line. That’s a touchdown.”

If officials ruled the play a touchdown for Auburn, it would have given them a 16-0 lead, with an extra point pending.

But the call went in favor of Georgia, which was able to march down the field for a field goal just before halftime, making it a 10-3 game.

With Auburn holding a disappointing 3-2 record going into Saturday’s game, rumors have been swirling about head coach Hugh Freeze’s job security.

Freeze, however, said that he is not paying any attention to any rumors concerning his job, and is fully focused on the game.

“I don’t pay attention to any of that,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. “Of course, I’m a person of faith, and I know that my story is being written way above my pay grade, and I know we’re doing things the right way here.

“We’re getting closer each game. You’re playing three top-10 teams in a row, and we’ve got an opportunity to knock them off. That’s our sole focus, is that. This is not about me. It’s about our kids and getting them ready to go play in a great rivalry like Georgia.”