The Dr Pepper Tuition Challenge ended in controversy at the Big 12 Championship in Arlington. It was an electric competition that went to TRIPLE overtime, but it was marred by a terrible, inexplicable ruling.
A student was completely robbed of $80,000. Let’s break it down!
(UPDATE: Dr Pepper did the right thing and paid out both contestants with the full purse after recognizing its mistake.)
In a dramatic double OT Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway during the Big 12 Conference championship game, an on-field technical error resulted in an inaccurate accounting of the double tie break. As such, Dr Pepper will recognize both finalists as grand prize winners with both receiving the full award in tuition.
— Dr. Pepper in a statement to BroBible
For those who have been living under a rock, the Dr Pepper Tuition Challenge is an event that takes place during halftime conference championship games. The concept is simple.
Two students compete against each other to try and throw as many footballs as possible through a small opening from five yards away within 30 seconds. The winner gets $100,000 in tuition money.
If that doesn’t sound serious enough, all five referees involved are real officials. They aren’t actors. They aren’t people grabbed out of the stands. All five officials are flown in by Dr Pepper to ensure the competition is executed properly.
The college football officiating crew completely failed on Saturday afternoon.
Controversy struck!
Ryan Georgian of the University of Pennsylvania and Gavin White of Ohio State went head-to-head.
They each made 10 passes during the first round. As a result, the competition went to overtime.
They were both awarded six successful passes each during the extra period for another a tie.
However, it appeared as though the officials counted an additional pass from Georgian. He made only five passes — AND the fifth completed pass left his hands after the referee had already blown the competition dead.
Check the tape:
Georgian made no more than five passes. The counter was off. White made six. He should have won.
Instead, the competition went to triple overtime — a shootout.
White went first and missed. Georgian went second and won $100,00 in walk-off fashion.
Although White went home with $20,000, he was robbed of $80,000. It was a victory in his favor during overtime that was wrongly ruled a tie.
Thankfully, Dr Pepper made it right and gave White his rightfully-deserved money!