Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

SEC Referee Suspended For Rest Of 2025 College Football Season

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 1:25 PM ET

The October 11 game between SEC rivals Georgia and Auburn was the most poorly-officiated football game in recent memory for many fans - particularly Auburn fans. But after weeks of deafening silence on the poor officiating, the SEC has apparently responded with actions, not words.

According to Yellowhammer News via ESPN's Mark Schlabach and Pete Thamel, the SEC has suspended referee Ken Williamson - who was in charge of the game's officiating crew - in the wake of the team's performance in the game. The SEC and Williamson have both declined to comment as of writing.

"The Southeastern Conference has suspended longtime referee Ken Williamson for the remainder of the season in the wake of his crew's performance in Georgia's 20-10 victory at Auburn on Oct. 11, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

"Williamson, who was the crew chief in that game, told SEC officials prior to the opening game that he was going to retire after this season, sources said.

"The SEC declined to comment Thursday. 'The SEC does not comment on personnel matters,' a league spokesperson said."

Williamson had reportedly planned on retiring at the end of the year. It looks like he's going to get a head start on that now.

SEC has suspended referee Ken Williamson for the remainder of the season after two controversial calls in Georgia's win over Auburn

Williamson had told SEC officials prior to the season that he planned to retire at the end of the year, per Pete Thamel pic.twitter.com/sEmR9F8Bi6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2025

Too little, too late

Fans have been accusing the officials of that game of having rigged the outcome for the better part of two weeks. News of Williamson's suspension has not changed anyone's opinion of the SEC or the outcome of the game:

"Well deserved. Too bad that he already cashed the Georgia check," one user declared.

"SEC got what they wanted, a Georgia win to keep them in the playoffs to make money for the conference. Can't have Auburn win there," another remarked.

"These refs are getting sought out. They’re probably looking for someone close to retirement or with a burden in their lives and bribing them. This is about to get wild," wrote a third.

College football referee.Carlos M. Saavedra/Getty Images

The timing of this news could hardly be worse. When combined with the recent arrests relating to sports betting, confidence in officials or the mere integrity of the game might be lower than it's ever been.

Nothing short of making sports betting federally illegal is likely to restore that confidence.

As for the game, it's bad luck for Auburn and potentially worse luck for head coach Hugh Freeze if 2025 winds up being his final year with the team.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: