SEC calls out refs for missing Oklahoma's 'hideout tactic' - ESPN

An SEC officiating crew failed to identify a «hideout tactic» on Oklahoma's second-quarter touchdown in the 11th-ranked Sooners' Week 4 win over No. 22 Auburn, the conference announced in a statement late Saturday night.

Oklahoma led 10-3 after quarterback John Mateer connected with Isaiah Sategna for a 24-yard touchdown with 10:45 remaining in the first half on Saturday. Before the snap, Sategna had walked toward the Sooners' sideline appearing to feign a substitution, but he remained on the field before streaking down the sideline through the Tigers' secondary undetected for the scoring reception.

Oklahoma went on to beat Auburn 24-17 after Mateer's go-ahead rushing touchdown with 4:54 left in the game.

Hours later, the SEC announced that its officiating crew «did not properly interpret the action as a hideout tactic» and said the Sooners should have been assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that would have wiped out Sategna's touchdown.

«If properly officiated, the second down play should have resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of 15 yards assessed from the previous spot,» the statement read. «Appropriate accountability will be applied without additional comment.»

The statement referred to NCAA football rule G-2, Article 2, related to «unfair tactics.»

«No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents,» the rule states. «No tactic associated with substitutions or the substitutions process may be used to confuse the opponent. This includes any hideout tactic with or without a substitution.»

Following the game, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle referred to the call as a «tempo play.» Sooners coach Brent Venables similarly knocked down the suggestion that it had