New details emerge on reported suspension of SEC official Ken Williamson after Auburn vs. Georgia controversy

SEC official Ken Williamson remains suspended by the conference after the controversy surrounding Auburn‘s loss to Georgia on the Plains. However, new details have emerged on what the future holds for Williamson. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Pete Thamel, he told other SEC officials the plan was to retire following the 2025 season.

“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,” ESPN’s report said. “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.”

When ESPN reached out to the SEC for any kind of comment, they responded with “The SEC does not comment on personnel matters.” Williamson did not get back to either Schlaback or Thamel either.

Either way, it appears as if we may have seen the last of Williamson during SEC games. His suspension will run through all of the 2025 season, and based on ESPN’s reporting, a retirement is coming. An unusual way to see a career end.

“I think this does set a very dangerous precedent,” current NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay told ESPN. “I mean, it’s basically succumbing to the masses who want every official’s head on a post after a difficult loss where there were maybe some controversial calls. I know the world doesn’t think they’re accountable, but they certainly are. They work the whole season for postseason [assignments] and when they have situations like this, they don’t get postseason assignments. They sometimes are not renewed. If they felt this rose to the level of a required punishment, there are certainly lesser punishments that may have been more appropriate than to basically end somebody’s career.”

The game in question caused quite a storm at Auburn, believing the officiating played a massive role in the decision. A play that quarterback Jackson Arnold thought he initially scored on at the goal line eventually got ruled a fumble in favor of Georgia. And then in the second half, Kirby Smart got granted a timeout after using a universal signal running down the sideline. However, he argued he was clapping his hands to simulate what an Auburn defender was doing to throw off Georgia’s offense. No flag got thrown on the Tigers for delay or game, nor were the Bulldogs charged a timeout.

Heavy criticism has since come from multiple people at Auburn. Head coach Hugh Freeze called out officiating during his postgame press conference, maybe still having frustrations for another scenario in Norman a few weeks prior against Oklahoma. Athletic director John Cohen actually confronted Williamson during the Georgia game at halftime. Even the university administration voiced frustrations over the matter.