Incredible interception by Will Lee III is called an Auburn completion. pic.twitter.com/uc7DO86eXM

— Aggs by 90 mil(2026 champs) (@agsby90mil) October 1, 2025

Wow

Man. I'm as big a homer as anyone. But it was likely the right call. They both had their hands on the ball. Tie goes to the offensive player.

He also never turned his head. It was as close to PI as it was to an interception.

changed my mind. INT

Tie goes to the receiver. Not controversial at all. Turn your head next time.

Bang, bang play.

Unless you are one of about 3 guys in NCAA football any given year that are 100% certain NFL starting caliber corners, you have no business turning your head around in that situation. Lee played it exactly right.

In a man cover go route against a bigger receiver turning your head in an almost certainly futile attempt to find the ball in the air is a recipe for losing contact and giving up the huge chunk play or TD. The right way to play that for 95% of college corners is to play the man and attempt to time the break up with the arrival of the ball. Gives you a better chance to break up the play and the downside is a 15 yard penalty instead of a 65 yd TD. The art of it is timing the PBU such that you don't get the PI.

I realize officials will give latitude IF the corner is attempting to play the ball, but for most guys it's still not the right technique in that particular situation.

Now, a situation where you have help, or it's a middle of the field throw, that can be different.

Looks like Will had the ball in his left arm as he was right next to the receiver, then as they were tumbling down to the ground the Auburn Receiver took it away from Will.

I hate the technique but that is the way they're taught. I would say he played it about as well as you can for a near perfect throw.

I am not sure what PI is anymore. In my day you couldn't put your hands on the receiver past 5 yards until the ball arrived. Now there is grabbing pushing etc down the field. Unless it is tackling before the ball arrives, PI calls seem to be arbitrary by the official. Also now it is 15 yards. You can get called for PI on a 60 yard bomb that would have been a score, and only give up 15 yards, which is what should be coached. So PI is actually encouraged.

What is the actual rule?

MagnumLoad said:

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I am not sure what PI is anymore. In my day you couldn't put your hands on the receiver past 5 yards until the ball arrived. Now there is grabbing pushing etc down the field. Unless it is tackling before the ball arrives, PI calls seem to be arbitrary by the official. Also now it is 15 yards. You can get called for PI on a 60 yard bomb that would have been a score, and only give up 15 yards, which is what should be coached. So PI is actually encouraged.

What is the actual rule?

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I think it depends on whether you're in the lead, the home team, the highest ranked, etc. Back in the dark ages, as long as you were playing the ball contact was incidental. Now, with DBs playing the receiver and more sophisticated passing games there's virtually no way to avoid some level of contact, many times it's initiated by the receiver. So, the refs really have to make a judgement call.

Surprised that receiver held onto the ball getting crushed into the turf like that.

NoahAg said:

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Tie goes to the receiver. Not controversial at all. Turn your head next time.

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Agree, but at the time I wanted it reviewed because I thought the receiver was out of bounds by the time he had possession.

jaxisback said:

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Unless you are one of about 3 guys in NCAA football any given year that are 100% certain NFL starting caliber corners, you have no business turning your head........ The right way to play that for 95% of college corners is to play the man and attempt to time the break up with the arrival of the ball. Gives you a better chance to break up the play ......

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I question whether you ever played corner. just "time it" but don't turn your head? Really?


and just WHEN do you "time" it? That is the whole point of playing great cornerback. you absolutely should turn and look a split second before- based on the receiver's reactions.

Go back and watch that play and tell me you don't know when the ball is coming! Saying only 3 guys can pull this off is crazy! talk about setting the bar low!

Kozmozag said:

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Surprised that receiver held onto the ball getting crushed into the turf like that.

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That's because Lee held onto it for him until the receiver was able to "reclaim" it (tie) after they hit the ground.

Great play.

Just isn't an interception.

by the way- in that video i see the WR make an incredible one handed catch and bring it into his body, then Lee take it away on the way down, then the WR regain possession from Lee (or at least trap it between their bodies).

great job by both- completion is correct call.

It's a pick

Isn't the booth reviewing every play? I think there is plenty of debate to be had on the correct result...but the booth didn't even call down to the ref to hold off for sec while they review it?

When you are beat it is hard to turn your head around and you are left to play pass breakup. Receivers are just so much better now, and with all the ticky tacky calls for PI they have a huge advantage.

Jesus people it's ok when the other team makes a good play. Correct call….just like OL downfield. Please stop acting like Baylor and tu complainers.

Hill08 said:

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Jesus people it's ok when the other team makes a good play. Correct call….just like OL downfield. Please stop acting like Baylor and tu complainers.

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I actually think most of the posters in this thread are in agreement that the refs made the right call.

You should go check out the other thread…they could use a post like yours.

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Hill08 said:

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Jesus people it's ok when the other team makes a good play. Correct call….just like OL downfield. Please stop acting like Baylor and tu complainers.

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I actually think most of the posters in this thread are in agreement that the refs made the right call.

You should go check out the other thread…they could use a post like yours.

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I'll just be accused of being a sip troll. The typical lazy texags tough guy response

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Hill08 said:

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Jesus people it's ok when the other team makes a good play. Correct call….just like OL downfield. Please stop acting like Baylor and tu complainers.

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I actually think most of the posters in this thread are in agreement that the refs made the right call.

You should go check out the other thread…they could use a post like yours.

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No we're not

In that video it ends with the receivers hand on Will's arm, not the ball.

That's an interception.

At first I thought tie goes to receiver.

After watching this a couple of times, that's an INT.

Even Auburn's best play was super close to an int.

Would love to keep seeing the Def dominate.

Did replay have a view from that angle? That wasn't 50/50 until after they were on the ground and Lee was down.

MagnumLoad said:

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I am not sure what PI is anymore. In my day you couldn't put your hands on the receiver past 5 yards until the ball arrived. Now there is grabbing pushing etc down the field. Unless it is tackling before the ball arrives, PI calls seem to be arbitrary by the official. Also now it is 15 yards. You can get called for PI on a 60 yard bomb that would have been a score, and only give up 15 yards, which is what should be coached. So PI is actually encouraged.

What is the actual rule?

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When did that change? I thought it was a spot foul up to 15 yards with an auto first down.

Divining Rod said:

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by the way- in that video i see the WR make an incredible one handed catch and bring it into his body, then Lee take it away on the way down, then the WR regain possession from Lee (or at least trap it between their bodies).

great job by both- completion is correct call.

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So you're saying the WR didn't have possession until hitting the ground. I'm going to have to go back and watch that play, one poster suggested he landed out of bounds. Not that any of this matters, just curious.

I hate to say it, but it was probably the correct call. Both players had their hands on the ball, but the tie goes to the receiver.

jaxisback said:

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Unless you are one of about 3 guys in NCAA football any given year that are 100% certain NFL starting caliber corners, you have no business turning your head around in that situation. Lee played it exactly right.

In a man cover go route against a bigger receiver turning your head in an almost certainly futile attempt to find the ball in the air is a recipe for losing contact and giving up the huge chunk play or TD. The right way to play that for 95% of college corners is to play the man and attempt to time the break up with the arrival of the ball. Gives you a better chance to break up the play and the downside is a 15 yard penalty instead of a 65 yd TD. The art of it is timing the PBU such that you don't get the PI.

I realize officials will give latitude IF the corner is attempting to play the ball, but for most guys it's still not the right technique in that particular situation.

Now, a situation where you have help, or it's a middle of the field throw, that can be different.

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Your arm through the receiver's arms…