"Refs are an eternal joke": CFB world blasts officials for not flagging controversial PI in USC vs Nebraska game

Nebraska dropped another game on Saturday when it traveled to Los Angeles to play USC. This marks the Cornhuskers’ fourth consecutive loss after starting the season on a 5-1 record. However, the final play of the Big Ten game on Saturday has stolen a lot of attention.

With the game hanging in the balance, Dylan Raiola launched a final pass toward the end zone, only to see it intercepted. Yet, the focus swiftly shifted away from the turnover itself. Jahmal Banks, the intended receiver, appeared to endure premature contact from DeCarlos Nicholson.

The moment, however, didn’t end there. Nicholson was visibly gripping Banks’ jersey, tugging it so forcefully that it stretched off his shoulder pad. Despite the blatant infraction, no penalty flag was thrown by the game officials, leaving Nebraska players and fans alike in disbelief.

The officiation of the game has generated a lot of reaction from fans online.

"Motion for new rule in the offseason that would allow coaches to challenge for penalties, adopting replay challenges similar to USFL/XFL rules," one fan said.

Other reactions to the incident online:

"This is Nebraska football. This happens to us consistently every week since we’ve joined the conference," a fan said.

"Don’t worry, at least the Big Ten will come out on Wednesday to tell us they made a mistake but won’t do a damn thing to correct for the third time this year," another fan said.

"It’s like the refs wanted to treat it like a Hail Mary situation? When in any ANY other play of any game this would be an absolutely obvious PI/holding??" one fan said.

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The Nebraska vs. USC game had more than controversy

The late-game play wasn't the only controversy that surrounded the game between Nebraska and USC on Saturday. A heated altercation erupted between the Trojans and the Cornhuskers during the Cornhuskers' customary pregame ritual.

The clash nearly escalated into a full-blown fight, with both teams on the verge of trading punches. However, uniformed police officers intervened in an effort to restore order, but the skirmish persisted for over 10 minutes before tensions finally subsided.

“USC did not like Nebraska doing its pregame prayer at midfield of the Coliseum. Things got pretty chippy when the #Huskers were at midfield. Overhead a USC player walking up the Tunnel after saying, ‘The game hasn’t even started and they are starting sh**,’” Sean Callahan of HuskerOnline reported.

The pregame brawl pretty much dictated the physicality that was seen throughout the game. The controversy surrounding the final play further complicated what has been a contentious matchup between the two Big Ten teams.