ESPN commentator rips refs in Texas-Missouri

The Missouri Tigers likely had their playoff hopes dashed on Saturday with a home loss to Texas.

The evenly matched game saw Eli Drinkwitz’s squad go blow for blow with the blue blood from Austin, with a handful of key plays deciding the game. Unfortunately for the Tigers, despite playing so well at home, several of these decisive moments saw the referees side with Texas.

ESPN’s Jesse Palmer highlighted the pattern throughout the game, at one point going so far as to say the Missouri program and its fans should be “livid” over the lopsided officiating.

In the third quarter, Palmer laid it on after a confounding ruling on a seemingly incomplete pass by Texas’ Arch Manning.

“I’m just going to say this. No skin in the game, [but] if you’re a Missouri fan, if you’re Eli Drinkwitz, you are livid,” Palmer said. “Because it does feel like a lot of these calls are going against Missouri today.”

“If you’re a Missouri fan, if you’re Eli Drinkwitz, you are livid because it does feel like a lot of these calls are going against Missouri today.” – ESPN’s Jesse Palmer after a curious call on a Texas fumble

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— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) November 7, 2026 at 12:21 PM

In the fourth quarter, with the game tied, Palmer noted another missed call against the Tigers.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this … but I think on that last play, this reffing crew missed another call that negatively impacts Missouri,” Palmer said.

On a third-down rushing play, Palmer pointed to a replay that showed a Texas Longhorns defender illegally leveling a Missouri receiver running downfield to block.

ESPN’s Jesse Palmer is incredulous about a non-call that “negatively impacts” Mizzou.

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— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) November 7, 2026 at 12:40 PM

The officiating was a running theme throughout the broadcast. Multiple other questionable calls made the rounds on X during the game, and Palmer’s name was trending by mid-afternoon.

Rights-holders like the SEC don’t appreciate when analysts bash the refs. And typically, broadcasters oblige. Palmer going this far shows just how big a presence the officials had in the Longhorns’ much-needed win over Mizzou.

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