Potential job put me through 3 rounds of interviews and then asks for references

I interviewed for an entry level position for three weeks with 3 different teams and after the last interview, they ghosted me for a week or so before coming back and requesting five references’ emails all by the end of the day last Friday. Mind you, they tell me this Thursday afternoon, as if it isn’t about to be thanksgiving week. I remember when reference requests used to be in the application, but now wasting someone’s time first is a-ok. It’s a weird time to be alive.