Overview of the Incident

During the recent Liberty Bowl matchup between Texas Tech and Arkansas on December 29, 2024, a controversial incident involving Texas Tech defensive back CJ Baskerville and Arkansas offensive lineman Fernando Carmona has drawn significant attention.

What Happened?

As the fourth quarter was winding down, Baskerville attempted to tackle Arkansas running back Braylen Russell. After the play ended, video footage appears to show Carmona intentionally stomping on Baskerville’s ankle while making his way back to the pile.

Baskerville’s Reaction

Baskerville shared multiple angles of the incident on social media, expressing his outrage over Carmona’s actions. He stated, ‘There’s no denying that Arkansas played a great game last night, I am not taking that away from them. But #55 Fernando Carmona blatantly stepping on my ankle and pressing down on it on purpose is straight up dirty. Proceeds to say, “got your b**** a***.” Do better @RazorbackFB.’

Social Media Outrage

The incident quickly sparked outrage among fans, with many taking to social media to express their disapproval of Carmona’s behavior. Some called for him to be banned from football entirely, highlighting the perceived malicious intent behind the stomp.

Baskerville’s Performance

Despite the incident, Baskerville had a noteworthy performance in the Liberty Bowl, finishing the game with 10 tackles. However, the game concluded with Arkansas emerging victorious, 39-26.

Continued Fallout

As of the latest reports, the Arkansas coaching staff, including head coach Sam Pittman, have yet to comment publicly on the incident, leaving fans and analysts to speculate on potential disciplinary actions against Carmona, who is a team captain.

Conclusion: What’s Next?

The aftermath of this incident continues to garner national attention in discussions about sportsmanship and ethics in college football. The reactions from both sides and the response from Arkansas’s athletic program will be closely monitored as the situation unfolds.