CFB referee tendency rankings

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Analytics and intelligence, bias modeling for the 3rd team on the field.

Showing 2020-2026

1,426 games · 692 officials · 6 seasons · Updated Aug. 22, 2026

League reference

51.5 combined points per game · 11.0 flags thrown per game

Above-reference frequency uses each game's stored scoring reference. It is not a sportsbook over/under record.

Referee rankings

Rank	Official		Average combined points			Flags per game		Evidence
1	Ron Turner#8	30	59.5	+4.5	46.7% above scoring reference	12.2	+0.6	High
2	Chris Garner#223	32	59.4	+4.4	50.0% above scoring reference	12.5	+0.9	High
3	Chad Lorance#4	40	59.3	+4.3	50.0% above scoring reference	12.4	+0.8	High
4	Mickey Bryson#29	30	59.3	+4.3	60.0% above scoring reference	12.7	+1.1	High
5	Jason Autrey#18	42	58.5	+3.5	38.1% above scoring reference	13.8	+2.2	High
6	Jason McArthur#35	30	57.9	+2.9	40.0% above scoring reference	12.4	+0.8	High
7	Daniel Gautreaux#447	38	57.8	+2.8	47.4% above scoring reference	11.5	-0.1	High
8	Allan Nicholson#64	34	57.6	+2.6	41.2% above scoring reference	12.5	+0.9	High
9	John Short#280	30	56.8	+1.8	46.7% above scoring reference	12.8	+1.2	High
10	Brent Sowell#219	30	56.7	+1.7	40.0% above scoring reference	14.0	+2.4	High
11	Chris Conway#220	34	56.5	+1.5	47.1% above scoring reference	12.5	+0.9	High
12	Ken Williamson#26	40	55.9	+0.9	50.0% above scoring reference	15.0	+3.4	High
13	Stan Weihe#19	40	55.9	+0.9	40.0% above scoring reference	11.5	-0.1	High
14	Brandon Spencer#445	34	55.7	+0.7	35.3% above scoring reference	11.9	+0.4	High
15	Stephen Ray#281	40	55.4	+0.4	45.0% above scoring reference	14.5	+2.9	High
16	Michael Moten#36	30	54.9	-0.1	40.0% above scoring reference	16.3	+4.7	High
17	Matt Loeffler#9	36	54.8	-0.2	38.9% above scoring reference	11.1	-0.5	High
18	David Ross#180	36	54.6	-0.4	50.0% above scoring reference	11.8	+0.3	High
19	Michael Shirey#12	34	54.5	-0.5	35.3% above scoring reference	10.9	-0.6	High
20	Michael Taylor#62	40	54.5	-0.5	45.0% above scoring reference	11.3	-0.3	High
21	Rodney Lawary#60	32	53.9	-1.1	37.5% above scoring reference	11.8	+0.2	High
22	Jeff Szink#42	34	53.8	-1.2	41.2% above scoring reference	10.2	-1.3	High
23	Justin Larrew#216	38	53.7	-1.3	31.6% above scoring reference	11.7	+0.1	High
24	Ralph Green#212	34	53.6	-1.4	29.4% above scoring reference	12.0	+0.4	High
25	Steve Marlowe#224	30	53.3	-1.7	26.7% above scoring reference	12.5	+0.9	High
26	Antonio Smith#284	32	52.9	-2.1	31.3% above scoring reference	11.3	-0.3	High
27	David Smith#59	34	52.9	-2.1	41.2% above scoring reference	11.4	-0.2	High
28	Jay Brown#296	40	52.9	-2.1	45.0% above scoring reference	10.9	-0.7	High
29	Jesse Dupuy#15	36	52.9	-2.1	27.8% above scoring reference	11.5	-0.1	High
30	Tom Fimmen#5	48	52.4	-2.6	33.3% above scoring reference	11.7	+0.1	High
31	Ron Snodgrass#161	30	52.3	-2.7	46.7% above scoring reference	10.4	-1.2	High
32	Russ Pulley#55	36	52.0	-3.0	44.4% above scoring reference	10.8	-0.7	High
33	Marc Curles#218	34	51.9	-3.1	29.4% above scoring reference	12.2	+0.7	High
34	Paul Schardein#63	36	51.9	-3.1	38.9% above scoring reference	11.9	+0.3	High
35	Bryan Murphy#32	32	51.6	-3.4	43.8% above scoring reference	11.3	-0.3	High
36	Dax Hill#30	30	51.5	-3.5	46.7% above scoring reference	10.7	-0.9	High
37	Ric Hinkamper#41	30	51.5	-3.5	40.0% above scoring reference	10.0	-1.6	High
38	Walt Hill#27	44	51.4	-3.6	31.8% above scoring reference	12.0	+0.5	High
39	Keith Parham#273	32	51.1	-3.9	43.8% above scoring reference	15.2	+3.6	High
40	Wayne Gautney#214	30	51.1	-3.9	20.0% above scoring reference	11.7	+0.2	High
41	Chad Green#20	46	50.8	-4.2	21.7% above scoring reference	14.3	+2.7	High
42	Chuck Rice#21	38	50.7	-4.3	21.1% above scoring reference	15.4	+3.8	High
43	John Hayes#140	30	50.3	-4.7	53.3% above scoring reference	9.7	-1.9	High
44	Glen Fucik#34	42	50.0	-5.0	33.3% above scoring reference	11.6	+0.0	High
45	Paul Myers#225	30	49.5	-5.5	26.7% above scoring reference	11.9	+0.4	High

Share of historical games finishing above the stored scoring reference for that game.

Notable patterns

Highest-scoring historical environment
Ron Turner
Higher-scoring history
59.5 average combined points
+4.5 versus league
30 games · High evidence
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Lowest-scoring historical environment
Paul Myers
Lower-scoring history
49.5 average combined points
-5.5 versus league
30 games · High evidence
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Highest whistle rate
Michael Moten
Higher whistle rate
16.3 fouls per game
+4.7 versus league
30 games · High evidence
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Lowest whistle rate
John Hayes
Lower whistle rate
9.7 fouls per game
-1.9 versus league
30 games · High evidence
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