SEC Officials Admit to Clock Error in Final Possession of Alabama vs. Arkansas

A false start penalty on the Alabama Crimson Tide with approximately one minute remaining in Saturday's 14-13 win over Arkansas cost the hosting Razorbacks a potential chance at another possession.

By rule, the clock should have stopped with under five minutes to go in the game, and the Southeastern Conference acknowledged the miscue Monday.   

Robbie Neiswanger of ArkansasNews.com (h/t CBSSports.com's Jerry Hinnen) posted an email from SEC spokesperson Chuck Dunlap, who explained the situation:

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During the normal course of a game, when the clock is running and there is a false start, the game clock will restart on the referee's signal after enforcement of the penalty...However, inside five minutes left in the game, rule 3-4-3 should apply, which includes starting the game clock on the snap "if the foul is by the team ahead in the score." After the Alabama false start late in the Alabama-Arkansas game, the referee started the clock on his signal rather than on the snap.

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The infraction pushed Alabama into a longer third down, and although Arkansas stopped the Tide, they didn't get a chance to get the ball back on what would have likely been a punt on fourth down.

Neiswanger documented what Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema had to say regarding the improper call by the officiating crew that denied him a potential landmark win:

Odds of a comeback at such a late juncture of the game were rather slim, but it did seem the Tide caught quite a break in Fayetteville. ESPN Stats & Info noted how slow of a start Alabama's offense got off to:

Coach Nick Saban's powerhouse program was lucky to escape Razorback Stadium with a victory after losing the prior contest to Ole Miss. To the Tide's credit, their defense stepped up and held a potent Arkansas rushing attack to under 100 yards in a hard-fought conference battle.

Coming off close losses to both Texas A&M and Alabama, the Razorbacks are competing hard, yet are still 0-3 in the SEC. They will have a tall task ahead in taking on 10th-ranked Georgia on Saturday.

The ineffectiveness of the Tide offense, led by fifth-year senior quarterback Blake Sims, left Alabama in a vulnerable position for this rules controversy to bear significance. Sims and Co. will have to find a way to get back on track quickly ahead of an upcoming showdown with the Aggies.