Week 13 of the 2025 college football season might not feature an elite slate of games, but it still has several key matchups with significant implications for how teams finish the year.
One of those games is an ACC battle between No. 13 Miami and Virginia Tech. After a string of questionable calls from the officiating crew during the game, fans took to the internet to express their displeasure with the referees.
Fans Blast Officiating in Miami-Virginia Tech Game
The last thing any college football fan wants is for the refs to take over a game. Unfortunately, that is precisely what happened during the Miami-Virginia Tech matchup on Saturday.
During the game, the officials stopped play to call unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both Miami and Virginia Tech. While that may not seem unusual, both fouls happened during a play that never technically existed because the previous snap was still under review.
After that, the refs wiped out a Virginia Tech first down because of an inadvertent whistle that they blew themselves. They then reviewed the same play they had already ruled dead, which only added to the confusion on the field.
Refs just called back an incredible Virginia Tech first down saying there was an inadvertent whistle and the down would be replayed. Now they’re reviewing that previous play that didn’t happen.
If you don’t like that, you don’t like ACC officiating. https://t.co/GCw2LAqJSp
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 22, 2025
The messy officiating and stoppages of plays quickly annoyed fans, who took to social media platforms like X to voice their complaints. One fan called the referees’ performance in the Virginia Tech-Miami game one of the worst they had ever seen, writing, “this is one of the worst officiating performances i’ve ever seen.”
this is one of the worst officiating performances i’ve ever seen
— B (@__bryancabrera) November 22, 2025
Another fan questioned who even decided to hire the officiating crew, writing, “who hired these refs, genueinly.”
Other fans pointed out the consistently poor performance of ACC refs in particular this season, with one writing, “This conference’s officiating must be the worst in the sport.”
This conference’s officiating must be the worst in the sport.
— Ricky LaBlue (@RickyLaBlue) November 22, 2025
While another fan suggested the ACC was trying to favor Miami to secure a playoff spot, posting, “ACC doing everything possible to get a CFP bid lmao.”
One fan even noted that the Miami-Virginia Tech officiating crew has a history of poor performances, pointing out that they were booed off the field during a Notre Dame game earlier this season, saying, “These are the same officials that got booed off the field at Notre Dame Stadium earlier this season.”
These are the same officials that got booed off the field at Notre Dame Stadium earlier this season.
— John Buechele (@swflskier18) November 22, 2025
While referees are an essential part of every college football game, it’s never enjoyable for players or fans when they become overly involved.
In the end, neither of the controversial calls in the Miami-Virginia Tech game will affect the outcome. Still, fans have every right to be upset about the officiating, especially given that ACC refs have struggled all season.
