SEC admits to missed calls on Memphis punt return TD vs. Mississippi State

The SEC admitted to multiple missed calls during Memphis' wild punt return touchdown against Mississippi State on Saturday.

With just over five minutes remaining, Calvin Austin III recovered a loose ball on a Bulldogs punt and took it 94 yards for a touchdown. However, an official appeared to signal a stoppage just as Austin recovered the football following Mississippi State's multiple attempts to down the punt.

The SEC ruled that ball was still live since a member of the kicking team did not possess it, but the conference says the official's signal would have changed the call to a dead ball upon review.

"On the play, the Back Judge gave a single "stop the clock" signal immediately after the receiving team possessed the ball," the SEC wrote in a statement.

"The inadvertent signal aspect of the play is reviewable, and replay should have stopped the game to review for a potential inadvertent signal. The subsequent review would have placed the ball at the spot where the signal was made."

However, that wasn't the only issue on the play. The Tigers had two players wearing No. 4 on the punt return, which the SEC says should have been penalized, thus also negating the touchdown.

"On the same play, two Memphis players were wearing No. 4, which is a violation and should have resulted in a five-yard penalty on Memphis."

The Tigers had an 11-point lead after the score and ended up defeating the Bulldogs 31-29.