Big Sky refs best FCS refs in the country!

[Long Time Cat]

I seems like this should qualify for Ripley' believe it or not.

https://www.montanasports.com/college-s ... ing-season

[Long Time Cat]

I seems like this should qualify for Ripley' believe it or not.

https://www.montanasports.com/college-s ... ing-season

It is a pretty interesting read. New point of emphasis this year will be spotting players faking an injury. I will be curious to see how that plays out.

[MSUBRONCO]

Lmao big sky refs suck

[TomCat88]

Not the best, but "among the best" in the FCS, according to the headline. That's probably true.

[MSU01]

I have still yet to meet a football fan who said "thank goodness our conference has the good refs!" Tough job, they can get 99 calls right but if they miss the 100th call it's the only one we notice and care about. Not thrilled to see targeting listed as #1 on the points of emphasis for this season, I'm not sure if there's anything I hate more about the college football rules right now than the targeting ejection that can take a player out from the first half of the next game. IMO they should do it like unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the first one is just a 15-yard penalty and the ejection happens on the second offense.

[wbtfg]

I like how the example they give of their training is putting on a blindfold and trying to navigate their way.

[luckyirishguy25]

I mean, they're at least not Bias... they call the game ****** both ways. So I guess they got that going for them.

[TomCat88]

I have still yet to meet a football fan who said "thank goodness our conference has the good refs!" Tough job, they can get 99 calls right but if they miss the 100th call it's the only one we notice and care about. Not thrilled to see targeting listed as #1 on the points of emphasis for this season, I'm not sure if there's anything I hate more about the college football rules right now than the targeting ejection that can take a player out from the first half of the next game. IMO they should do it like unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the first one is just a 15-yard penalty and the ejection happens on the second offense.

If you've been to any of MSU's playoff games, you can see the officiating is about the same everywhere.

I agree on targeting. At least in terms of changing the penalty of missing that much playing time. They could probably start fining them since they get NIL but that would open another can of worms. Maybe a penalty box ala hockey?

[TomCat88]

Oh, and I still can't find where Clevan Thomas stepped out of bounds or didn't have possession of the ball.

[RUACAT]

I had an opportunity to tour the replay booth at Bobcat Stadium last year and see the process for reviewing plays. I had no idea the process was so complex. Just giving credit where credit is due, these replay officials must be on full alert at all times and communication is instrumental. The amount of computer work in archiving each and every single play is unbelievable, and these guys made it look seamless. There is absolutely no way I could stay focused for 100% of the game action.

[tetoncat]

I had an opportunity to tour the replay booth at Bobcat Stadium last year and see the process for reviewing plays. I had no idea the process was so complex. Just giving credit where credit is due, these replay officials must be on full alert at all times and communication is instrumental. The amount of computer work in archiving each and every single play is unbelievable, and these guys made it look seamless. There is absolutely no way I could stay focused for 100% of the game action.

Maybe it is too complicated and that is why crucial short yardage or any fumble in a pile seem to never get reviewed. But 2nd and 10 they review if runner was down for 7 yard gain vs. 8.

[MSU01]

I have still yet to meet a football fan who said "thank goodness our conference has the good refs!" Tough job, they can get 99 calls right but if they miss the 100th call it's the only one we notice and care about. Not thrilled to see targeting listed as #1 on the points of emphasis for this season, I'm not sure if there's anything I hate more about the college football rules right now than the targeting ejection that can take a player out from the first half of the next game. IMO they should do it like unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the first one is just a 15-yard penalty and the ejection happens on the second offense.

If you've been to any of MSU's playoff games, you can see the officiating is about the same everywhere.

I agree on targeting. At least in terms of changing the penalty of missing that much playing time. They could probably start fining them since they get NIL but that would open another can of worms. Maybe a penalty box ala hockey?

I like the penalty box idea, maybe it's like a hockey delayed penalty where the player called for targeting has to sit out until either his team gets possession of the ball back or the opponent scores on their drive. A second offense in the same game would then have a more severe penalty, such as ejection and/or suspension for the next game. I just can't stand the carryover into the next game for a first targeting penalty, especially when targeting is such a judgment call and there can be very little difference visually between what is and isn't penalized.

[coloradocat]

And more often than not — to the dismay of many fans — Big Sky officials are making the correct decisions.

That's not what we're dismayed about.

[coloradocat]

2025 NCAA Football Points of Emphasis

Protection of defenseless players/targeting
Concussions
Pre-snap actions for offense and defense/disconcerting signals/offensive alignment
Feigning injury
Unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting
Sideline control
Pace of play, substitutions and length of game
Illegal contact against a quarterback/passer

So of the eight points of emphasis, only two have anything to do with live action and both are more likely to result in over-penalizing teams. I wish the points of emphasis were more focused on the refs making the right calls (holding is still against the rules, right?) than policing sportsmanship.

[coachouert]

2025 NCAA Football Points of Emphasis

Protection of defenseless players/targeting
Concussions
Pre-snap actions for offense and defense/disconcerting signals/offensive alignment
Feigning injury
Unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting
Sideline control
Pace of play, substitutions and length of game
Illegal contact against a quarterback/passer

So of the eight points of emphasis, only two have anything to do with live action and both are more likely to result in over-penalizing teams. I wish the points of emphasis were more focused on the refs making the right calls (holding is still against the rules, right?) than policing sportsmanship.

You seem disconcerted. Five yard penalty, repeat first down.

[wbtfg]

2025 NCAA Football Points of Emphasis

Protection of defenseless players/targeting
Concussions
Pre-snap actions for offense and defense/disconcerting signals/offensive alignment
Feigning injury
Unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting
Sideline control
Pace of play, substitutions and length of game
Illegal contact against a quarterback/passer

So of the eight points of emphasis, only two have anything to do with live action and both are more likely to result in over-penalizing teams. I wish the points of emphasis were more focused on the refs making the right calls (holding is still against the rules, right?) than policing sportsmanship.

You seem disconcerted. Five yard penalty, repeat first down.

That didn't look like real disconcertment, I think he was feigning. That should be 15 yards.

[coachouert]

2025 NCAA Football Points of Emphasis

Protection of defenseless players/targeting
Concussions
Pre-snap actions for offense and defense/disconcerting signals/offensive alignment
Feigning injury
Unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting
Sideline control
Pace of play, substitutions and length of game
Illegal contact against a quarterback/passer

So of the eight points of emphasis, only two have anything to do with live action and both are more likely to result in over-penalizing teams. I wish the points of emphasis were more focused on the refs making the right calls (holding is still against the rules, right?) than policing sportsmanship.

You seem disconcerted. Five yard penalty, repeat first down.

That didn't look like real disconcertment, I think he was feigning. That should be 15 yards.

Oh, now you're telling me how to do my job? Unsportsmanlike conduct, 15 yard penalty, automatic ejection, plus six game suspension.

[RUACAT]

I had an opportunity to tour the replay booth at Bobcat Stadium last year and see the process for reviewing plays. I had no idea the process was so complex. Just giving credit where credit is due, these replay officials must be on full alert at all times and communication is instrumental. The amount of computer work in archiving each and every single play is unbelievable, and these guys made it look seamless. There is absolutely no way I could stay focused for 100% of the game action.

Maybe it is too complicated and that is why crucial short yardage or any fumble in a pile seem to never get reviewed. But 2nd and 10 they review if runner was down for 7 yard gain vs. 8.

I should clarify that it looked complex to a casual fan like myself. But, it put things into perspective about how quick the game moves when you're not just watching from the stands. They do review every single play and mentioned they are graded accordingly. Now... I don't know what the grading system looks like or what the implications are, but I'd also point out they're working with the camera angles available. So, unless you have a player or ref wearing bodycams, you're not likely to get a very clear look at a fumble in the bottom of a pile. But, I assure you, they do look at every play, whether it be yards of gain, penalties, turnovers, TDs. It's all reviewed. In real time.

[ClowderUp]

I have still yet to meet a football fan who said "thank goodness our conference has the good refs!" Tough job, they can get 99 calls right but if they miss the 100th call it's the only one we notice and care about. Not thrilled to see targeting listed as #1 on the points of emphasis for this season, I'm not sure if there's anything I hate more about the college football rules right now than the targeting ejection that can take a player out from the first half of the next game. IMO they should do it like unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the first one is just a 15-yard penalty and the ejection happens on the second offense.

This needs two levels of severity similar to the two levels of severity with roughing the kicker. The lower level is 15 yards and one strike just like any unsportsmanlike penalty. The egregious version is an ejection just the same as the current rule.

[St George]

The worst FCS refs are still better than the best refs in the WNBA and possibly the NBA.