With a chance to win $100,000 in scholarship money during the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway halftime event Saturday at the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, Texas, two college students really gave it their all during regulation.. and then in overtime, and then in double overtime. Eventually, University of Pennsylvania student Ryan Georgian bested Ohio State University’s Gary White.

Or did he? Outraged fans quickly took to social media to point out there had been a scoring error—Georgian had been given an extra point in the first round. 

What to do? Many companies might have just said, “Too bad” to White and let Georgian take home the cash. Others might have claimed the whole contest was null and void because of the mistake and refused to pay either of the contestants. But you have to give credit where credit is due, and Dr Pepper owned up to the technicality and offered both students scholarship funds. A class act:

An update on today’s Big 12 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway pic.twitter.com/oSF68w2FZK

— Dr Pepper (@drpepper) December 2, 2023

Here's how the event unfolded:

As they worked to chest pass the most footballs through an inflatable Dr Pepper can in 30 seconds, fans admired each valiant performance.

After the first round, which is typically the only round, the scholars were tied. The issues came during the first overtime, which was also ruled as a tie. But while Ryan seemingly notched the victory with his last made attempt before the whistle in the second overtime, fans noticed that he didn't get the ball out of his hands before time was up in the previous round...

Viewers and ESPN's announcers were deeply invested in the outcome. Social media posts about the event included calls for legal action and riots.

People were definitely upset:

There should be a riot in the streets of Fansville tonight pic.twitter.com/YCabELkWFf

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 2, 2023

These kids were actually pretty decent. Watch: 

On replay review, it is CLEAR that Gavin actually won the first overtime 6-5. It should never have gone to double overtime. We may need an appeal to @drpepper HQ.

There will be lawyers…pic.twitter.com/UshLdGHPmm

— Dan Lust, Esq. 🎙 (@SportsLawLust) December 2, 2023

No, the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway is not a do-or-die situation, and it's hardly the most pressing issue facing the world right now. People don't like unfairness, however, and feel a sense of outrage when they see it right in front of them. Just ask supporters of Florida State University, whose football team didn't make the College Football Playoffs despite having a perfect season. Texas and Alabama both got in despite having one loss each and to many, that just felt flat-out unfair:

Florida State AD Goes Nuclear Over College Football Playoff Snub of Undefeated Team, 'Unforgivable' 

I give Dr Pepper applause for snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat. Instead of suffering a public relations nightmare and earning the wrath of who knows how many fans who were watching, they instead got a huge win. Even big corporations get it right sometimes.

They just announced that Dr Pepper has decided to pay both folks due to the mistake…

THANKS FOR MAKING IT RIGHT @drpepper

🗣🗣👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/TAfh4anEhR

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 2, 2023

My last remaining question is, why doesn't Dr have a period after it? Shouldn't it be "Dr. Pepper?" Inquiring minds want to know.