“That was disrespectful”: CFB world left divided as Pat McAfee calls out taunting call against Texas

The Texas Longhorns lost the Cotton Bowl Classic 28-14 on Friday to the Ohio State Buckeyes, thus eliminating them from the College Football Playoff. The game was even throughout, with the teams entering the fourth quarter tied at 14. However, Ohio State took the lead 21-14 with seven minutes left.

On the next drive, Texas moved the ball downfield and appeared to achieve a first down. However, a taunting call on tight end Gunnar Helm resulted in the Texas Longhorns losing their first down and getting a 15-yard penalty.

While the Longhorns got another first down on the next drive on a great pass from quarterback Quinn Ewers, the taunting call was a hugely controversial moment in the game.

College football fans were left divided on McAfee's comments concerning the call.

Some supported the call, saying it was bad sportsmanship and disrespectful. Others prefer to let the players play and do not like it when the referees make these calls in big moments.

"That was disrespectful," one fan wrote.

"The refs went out of their way to help OSU last night," one fan commented.

"If the weak personal foul isn’t called - the next play that’s down to the 14 is in the endzone and we have a tied game instead of a strip sack game over. Refs flipped the result of this game," one fan added.

Some fans defended the refs, saying they should not change up how they call games in big moments.

"Hearing announcers say referees should ignore rules in certain games or at certain points in games is getting old," one fan wrote.

"I don’t like the call but unfortunately you can’t taunt the opponent..," one fan commented.

"It's called taunting. Don't point at the guy you just knocked down. Act like you've been there before," one fan added.

Texas loses in the CFP semifinal for the second year in a row

With the loss to Ohio State on Friday, the Texas Longhorns have lost in the CFP semifinal for the second year in a row. Last season, they lost 37-31 to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl. And this year in the Cotton Bowl.

With the loss, it probably ends Quinn Ewers' time with Texas. Regardless of whether he decides to return for another season, the Longhorns could now look forward to Arch Manning as their starter next season.