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Report: SEC has banned referee Ken Williamson

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 4:03 PM ET

The SEC has banned official Ken Williamson from officiating conference games moving forward, according to a report.

Yellowhammer News reported on Wednesday about Williamson. They say that the conference received 11 complaints against Williamson regarding calls from games. The conference reportedly reviewed the complaints and validated nine of the complaints.

Williamson was the crew chief for the Georgia-Auburn game two weeks ago that drew attention for some officiating mistakes. One incident involved Kirby Smart getting the benefit of the doubt when he appeared to clearly signal for a timeout.

Kirby Smart yells that he was clapping, but was clearly calling a timeout

lol this is absolutely absurd tonight with SEC officials.

Doesn’t have to use TO, click was reset pic.twitter.com/FpJhivckTs
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) October 12, 2025

Lane Kiffin brought renewed attention to the matter the following week.

Williamson’s crew also presided over a terrible, game-changing call in that same Auburn-Georgia game. Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold appeared to cross the goal line on a quarterback sneak before losing the ball. Rather than being credited with a touchdown that would have made the score 16-0, the officials called it a fumble and gave the ball to Georgia.

MORE HORRIBLE OFFICIATING.. pt 31

This is CLEARLY an Auburn Touchdown..

FINE. THE. REFS#Auburn #Georgia
pic.twitter.com/X6mhL4ceKR
— College Football Fan (@CoryWargo_CFB) October 12, 2025

In addition to that game where he had some bad calls, Williamson was an official for the CFP semifinal game between Ohio State and Clemson in 2019. Many of the calls from that game left Buckeyes fans frustrated.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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