Kentucky wide receiver Kenny Darby made an incredible catch during the second quarter of Saturday’s college football game against South Carolina. However, it was ruled incomplete upon further review.
The SEC replay officials apparently found “indisputable evidence” to overturn the call on the field.
I think every college football fan would agree that it was actually quite disputable. Maybe there was an angle we didn’t get to see?
South Carolina jumped out to an early lead on Kentucky.
Kentucky traveled to South Carolina on Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks were in desperate need of a win to save their season. The Wildcats continue to play with house money in Will Stein’s first year as head coach.
Everything went in favor of the home team during the first half. South Carolina totaled more than 200 yards of offense with a balanced attack split almost 50/50 in terms of rushing/passing yards and punted twice. Kentucky struggled to move the ball early and finished with only 107 yards on 31 plays and punted four times. The score was indicative of the yardage.
The Gamecocks scored a pair of touchdowns during the first quarter and tacked on a field goal in the second to go up 17-0 but the Wildcats got one back before the half. It was 17-7 at the break. It could’ve been 17-14. Momentum started to shift toward the visitors!
Kenny Darby made an incredible catch that was ruled incomplete.
Kentucky had the ball on 1st-and-10 from its own 49-yard-line with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter. True freshman wide receiver Kenny Darby broke loose over the middle and slipped past the South Carolina secondary.
He was wide open. Quarterback Kenny Minchey saw his intended target had a step on the Gamecocks defensive back and unleashed a deep ball to the opposite 15-yard-line. It easily would’ve gone for six if Minchey hit Darby in stride but the throw floated on him. As a result, Darby had to lay out for what was ruled a catch on the field.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound pass-catcher made an incredible acrobatic play to give the Wildcats a much-needed first down. The offense hustled to the line to snap the ball but officials blew it dead. They went to the booth. The previous play was under review.
Here is how it looked in real time and on the slow-motion replay:
What a catch by Kenny Darby of Kentucky! Cats on the door for 6! But, they ruled it an incomplete pass! What do you think? pic.twitter.com/QBJ9Krk397
— Jet (@_jetgaming) October 3, 2026
There must be indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field. I certainly did not see any. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the video replay confirmed the catch because his hands were under the ball. I cannot see it as anything but a catch.
The officials saw something different. The catch was overturned and ruled as incomplete. How? I really don’t know.
Here’s another look at the replay angles that aired on the SEC Network broadcast:
This Kentucky catch was overruled after being called a catch on the field. Wouldn't exactly call this "indisputable video evidence"…
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 3, 2026
Catch or no? pic.twitter.com/SCD9VGtd8K
That’s a catch and you can’t convince me otherwise. At the absolute very least, the lack of indisputable evidence should’ve allowed the call to stand. Barring catastrophe, Kentucky would’ve finished the drive with points. The Wildcats were robbed of a crucial completion.