ACC, ESPN give behindthescenes look at ClemsonGeorgia Tech replay review, and it's great Jason OwensSeptember 14, 2025 at 6:49 AM 0 The broadcast of Georgia Tech's thrilling win over Clemson was enhanced by transparency into the ACC's replay review process. (Kevin C.
- - ACC, ESPN give behind-the-scenes look at Clemson-Georgia Tech replay review, and it's great
Jason OwensSeptember 14, 2025 at 6:49 AM
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The broadcast of Georgia Tech's thrilling win over Clemson was enhanced by transparency into the ACC's replay review process. (Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)
What a revelation.
With 3:29 left in Saturday's thriller between Clemson and Georgia Tech, Clemson scored what appeared to be a would-be game-tying touchdown on a second-down pass form Cade Klubnik to Josh Sapp. But Sapp didn't have control of the ball as his momentum carried him out of the back of the end zone, and officials overturned the call on the field upon replay review, ruling it an incomplete pass.
The ACC gave viewers an inside look into the entire replay process on the ESPN broadcast of the game that was new to most fans. Here's what it looked and sounded like:
I absolutely love that the ACC has real time audio of replay reviews!#12 Clemson scores what appears to be a huge downtown, to level the score with Georgia Tech 21-21, but the call on the field is overturned as the received never secured possession before going out of bounds. pic.twitter.com/mwPT3iVVNQ
— Grant Smith Ellis (@GrantSmithEllis) September 13, 2025
'He's still fuddling with that ball'
The ACC provided access to an over-the-shoulder view of the replay control room in Charlotte as multiple replay officials watched the replay on different screens. Viewers also had access to the audio of the conversation between the officials in the command center and the referee on the field as they discussed whether or not the pass was complete.
"You can see that he's got a body part down, but the ball is pinned against his lower leg right there with the tops of his hands," an official said. "And then he's out there. He's still fuddling with that ball. Then he gets control. But he's clearly out."
They took a brief look at another angle, and the referee on the field concurred that the pass was incomplete. He then stepped away from his screen and announced the decision to the fans in Atlanta, the point at which both college and NFL fans have traditionally been clued into the process.
Clemson ultimately scored a game-tying touchdown on third down before Georgia Tech responded with a drive that set up a game-winning, walk-off 55-yard field goal by kicker Aidan Birr.
This wasn't the first time that this process had been broadcast. The ACC announced in August that it would be providing these inside looks on select games broadcast on ESPN networks, and it had been previously used this season. But it was the first time that it had been seen at this level during the marquee game of the early afternoon schedule on a Saturday.
Why isn't every sport using this?
Its use immediately raised the question. Why isn't this the norm across college football and in the NFL? And in other sports that use replay, for that matter.
Fans instead are generally left to sit and watch as broadcasters and officiating analysts try to guess what replay officials will ultimately decide. This can get tedious, especially during lengthy reviews. Watching the actual decision-making process play out is considerably more compelling.
The ACC touted "unprecedented transparency" when it announced the enhanced replay access, and it has delivered. The process used to be shrouded in mystery. Now fans can see how officials in the replay center and on the field parse the replay and collaboratively reach a decision.
This is better for the integrity of the game, and it enhances the entertainment element of the broadcast. It's a win-win for broadcasters and fans.
What could go wrong?
The potential downside, of course, is its use during a controversial replay review in which officials may not get things right. Saturday's example was pretty clear cut. Sapp clearly didn't have control of the ball, and officials reached the correct conclusion in a reasonable amount of time.
Not all replays are as straight-forward, as the ACC embarrassingly demonstrated last week during a controversial replay process during UConn-Syracuse that ultimately prompted the referee on the field to quit his job.
This replay was not given the behind-the-scenes treatment. Had it been, it would have run the risk of shedding further negative light on a process that was already problematic.
But that would only be a negative for the officials and the ACC. For the fans and the broadcast, it would have still ben a win. And the ACC signed up for that risk when it promised "unprecedented transparency."
In a competitive broadcast environment in which broadcasters are constantly seeking a leg up, this should be a no-brainer for networks and streamers. Other college conferences and the NFL should follow the ACC's lead in providing access, even with the downside risk for the leagues that come with transparency.
This should be the new norm.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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