The Final Four delivered in its first matchup — and so did the controversy that followed. For the first time since 2007, the Florida Gators have punched their ticket to the national championship game.
And boy, did they do it in style. In the end it was decisive for the Gators, but is the Final Four ever complete without a dash of drama?
While Gators fans celebrated, they also had some questions—and this time, they were aimed at the refs.
Florida Gators Fandom Question Ref Decisions and Claim Auburn Allegiance
As Florida danced in celebration, Auburn fans were left dealing with the sting of a six-point loss. But long before the final buzzer, internet speculation had taken off. From the first whistle to the last, fans were side-eyeing every call—or lack thereof.
THOMAS HAUGH THROWS IT UP AND IN 🤯
THE GATORS CAN FEEL IT!#MarchMadness @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/OsTTSPulBa
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
One fan wrote, “Refs still trying for Auburn…” with a heavy dose of sarcasm. And they weren’t the only ones.
“Right now I think the refs would let Auburn foul the free throw shooter at the line and not call it,” another fan said, clearly frustrated.
One more chimed in: “Auburn definitely paid the refs before the game. Very sketchy officiating out here.”
Others simply called the officiating “horrible,” accusing the refs of leaning toward the Tigers. It wasn’t just noise, either. The numbers showed 37 total fouls—statistically balanced—but many fans took issue with how involved the officials seemed to be.
In a game of this magnitude, with a national title on the line, some felt the refs didn’t let the players play.
So, who were the zebras on the hardwood for Auburn vs. Florida?
Who Were the Refs in Florida vs. Auburn?
Roger Ayers (a Final Four veteran, fifth appearance), Tony Padilla (fourth Final Four), and Courtney Green (second appearance), with AJ Desai on standby. All are seasoned referees, but by the end of the night, they were trending for all the wrong reasons.
To make matters worse, this wasn’t the first time an Auburn game ended in controversy.
Some fans drew parallels to the infamous 2019 Auburn heartbreak. In that game, a last-second foul call helped Virginia edge the Tigers 63-62. Auburn fans haven’t forgotten that whistle. And maybe, just maybe, they weren’t about to let history repeat itself.
Except what Auburn didn’t see coming was that Florida came prepared—and outplayed them when it counted. You can’t ref effort, and the Gators are proof of that. Still, the conversation continues.
KEEP READING: Walter Clayton Jr. Makes History in Final Four Win Over Auburn
Is officiating becoming too much of the March Madness storyline? Fans seem to think so. And if the NCAA thought it would coast through Final Four weekend without drama, well… the internet had other plans.
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