The Southeastern Conference admitted Monday that officials made a critical mistake during an onside kick in Saturday's game between Tennessee and Texas.

Tennessee recovered the kick with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter after cutting the Texas lead to 20-17 on a touchdown pass. The recovery gave the Volunteers a chance to tie or win the game. Texas ultimately prevailed 20-17 after stopping a late Hail Mary attempt.

The SEC said the onside kick was incorrectly officiated and should have drawn a five-yard penalty against Tennessee with a replay of the down. Punter Jackson Ross drop-kicked the ball at least one yard behind the 35-yard line restraining line. He also changed his lateral position between the hash marks after the ready-for-play signal, violating rules on kicker movement.

Officials initially threw a flag on the play but picked it up after discussion. NBC rules analyst Terry McAuley had questioned the legality in real time.

In its statement, the conference noted that a drop kick is permissible on a free kick but must occur from the proper restraining line. It added that the kicker may not alter lateral position after the ready signal except after a timeout or subsequent kick. The SEC expressed regret for the error and said it will work with NCAA rules experts to ensure consistent enforcement of free-kick rules.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had questioned the play's legality after the game. The missed call did not alter the final result, as the Longhorns remained unbeaten.

The admission highlights ongoing scrutiny of officiating in high-profile Southeastern Conference matchups.