ESPN
TCU running back Jeremy Payne signals for a first down during a game against North Carolina at Dublin's Croke Park on August 29, 2026
It took just one game in the 2026 FBS college football season for fans to get up in arms over the referees. But should they have taken a deeper look at the rules before complaining?
The incident in question occurred in the annual season-opener at Dublin’s Croke Park between the North Carolina Tar Heels and TCU Horned Frogs.
Midway through the game, TCU running back Jeremy Payne appeared to have rushed for a first down, but was ultimately flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after he appeared to make a first-down signal.
It’s unbelievably lame to call Unsportsmanlike Conduct for this. pic.twitter.com/OumqKqHVWi
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) August 29, 2026
Seems harmless enough, right?
Fans were furious with the call.
“It’s unbelievably lame to call Unsportsmanlike Conduct for this,” @CoachDanCasey wrote on X.
“The people who make the rules for this sport are contemptible. They’re just so out of touch it’s hard to believe,” wrote @5thDownCFB. “Meanwhile, they said they couldn’t do anything about players wearing bicycle shorts instead of FB pants b/c it was part of self-expression and players would object.”
TCU RB Jeremy Payne May Have Broken A Clearly Written Rule
However, there may have been more to the call than meets the eye.
Prior to the 2025 NFL season, the league banned players from using the “nose wipe” celebration that was first popularized by Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb and soon became commonplace.
This year, college football followed suit. For those wondering why something so innocuous was banned, let’s do a quick deep dive.
Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk reported following the NFL’s decision that the gesture is a gang sign associated with the Bloods, indicating someone is untrustworthy. The gesture was then popularized by rappers Future and Young Thug.
While you can’t explicitly see Payne do the “nose wipe” gesture due to the positioning of the camera, he does appear to put his hand up to his face.
Given the call came from the official in front of him, it’s easy to conclude that this is what he was flagged for. Is it still a bit silly? Perhaps. But it’s more than just a first down signal.