A Purdue pick-six was called back for ‘high-stepping’ into end zone, and fans were rightfully outraged

No, you absolutely cannot have even the tiniest amount of fun while playing college football.

You’d be forgiven if you weren’t tuned into Saturday’s Northwestern-Purdue matchup in West Lafayette. But in case you missed the Big Ten West matchup, it featured one of the most egregious officiating calls we’ve seen all season.

Purdue managed to grab an interception and return it for what looked like a pick-six early in the third quarter, until the touchdown was called back for an unsportsmanlike penalty for… “high-stepping into the end zone.”

On 3rd-and-6 on Northwestern’s own 43, Boilermakers linebacker Jalen Graham picked off Wildcats quarterback Cole Freeman and bolted toward the end zone with wide-open space ahead of him.

But alas, the Big Ten’s officials absurdly decided Graham was having too much fun and celebrated his pick-six too early, dealing him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the spot of the foul

Sooo… Purdue had a pick six erased because LB Jalen Graham was high stepping from the 30 yard line and the refs called him for unsportsmanlike conduct

Such a lame call. pic.twitter.com/RG78iUBnQx

— ???????????????????????? @???????????????????????????????? (@FTBeard7) November 19, 2022

Purdue interception return for a TD taken off the board, for “high stepping”. Coach Prime would be aghast pic.twitter.com/r96shnUta7

— Chris B. Brown (@smartfootball) November 19, 2022

Come on, this is so ridiculous.

Obviously, college football officials are allowed to dish out penalties for players celebrating too early, but it’s a big-time discretionary call. And in this instance, it seems absolutely laughable to take that discretion this seriously.

Graham didn’t taunt anyone, he didn’t make any gestures at the Wildcats, he didn’t do a cartwheel into the end zone. He was simply too excited with his running, and officials continue penalizing players for enjoying the game they play.

Purdue still ended up winning, 17-9, but that was a joke of a call.