Punter James Burnip has been a crucial piece to success for Nick Saban and Alabama throughout the 2023/24 college football season. He was shaken up after a blatant missed penalty during the first quarter of Monday’s game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The officiating crew’s failure cost the Crimson Tide a first down. How it went unflagged is baffling!
Burnip set up from his own 21-yard-line on 4th-and-3. His kick got off without issue but he was unable to finish his follow-through.
Michigan edge rusher Kechuan Bennett came flying in from Burnip’s right. Although the 6-foot-4, 257-pound senior was unable to block the punt, pulled up before making contact, and turned his back to the play— he still made contact with the punter.
Bennett clipped Burnip’s kicking leg and sent him spiraling to the turf.
There is an argument to made that Burnip flopped and that very well may be true. He may have oversold his fall, although he laid on the ground in pain for a moment and limped off of the field so probably not.
It doesn’t matter!
Bennett ran into the kicker as the kicker was still finishing his motion. A flag should have been thrown.
And yet, nothing.
Had the correct call been made, Alabama would have been granted five additional yards. The penalty would have resulted in a first down.
Bennett’s contact with Burnip’s leg, no matter how incidental, should have moved the chains for the Crimson Tide. Instead, the punt stood. It was a turnover on downs. The Wolverines took over on offense.
Missed calls happen. Michigan went three-and-out on the next drive. No harm, no foul.
And yet — there should have been a foul. Alabama had an opportunity to swing the momentum in their favor taken away because of a no-call.