SEC Suspends Referee Ken Williamson After Controversial Auburn-Georgia Game
Permanently suspended after SEC validating nine out of eleven complaints against Ken Williamson and his officiating crew
Veteran SEC referee Ken Williamson has been permanently suspended from officiating conference games following a review of his performance during the October 11, 2025, Auburn-Georgia football game. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) confirmed the suspension after validating nine out of eleven complaints against Williamson and his officiating crew.
The controversy centers on a pivotal moment late in the second quarter when Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold appeared to score a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. However, after review, officials ruled it a fumble, awarding possession to Georgia. Replays suggested Arnold may have crossed the goal line before losing control of the ball, and at least two Georgia defenders were offside at the snap. This sequence led to a 14-point swing, as Georgia capitalized on the turnover to narrow the score to 10-3 before halftime.
The second half brought further controversy when Georgia head coach Kirby Smart appeared to signal for a timeout, halting Auburn's defensive momentum. Officials accepted Smart's claim that he was merely clapping, but replays showed he had motioned for a timeout before switching to clapping. Georgia subsequently scored, securing a 20-10 victory.
This suspension follows a series of officiating controversies involving Auburn. In their previous game against Oklahoma, the SEC admitted that a missed unsportsmanlike conduct penalty allowed an Oklahoma player to catch a touchdown pass after feigning an injury.
Former NFL referee and NBC Sports rules analyst Terry McAulay initially posted on X about the botched timeout call that “This has not been a good day for college football officiating.” However, he criticized the SEC's suspension decision, calling it "insane" and a "dark stain" on college football. McAulay argued that suspending an official for a single game's performance was excessive and inconsistent with how coaching and playing mistakes are handled. He also posted that “the entire SEC Officiating staff should delay starting every game this weekend in support of Ken. Check that, every crew in the country should do so.” McAulay, no stranger to controversy, has also called fans “vitriolic, childish, and ignorant of officiating and rules” recently.
Williamson, who has over four decades of officiating experience, including 21 years with the SEC, has not publicly commented on the suspension. The SEC has not released an official statement regarding the suspension.
