3 calls that screwed Michigan football in loss to Michigan State

Michigan football seemingly had a rivalry win over Michigan State in hand but blew a late lead — not without help for Sparty from the refs, though.

For the first part of Saturday’s battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan football looked to be in prime position to make a huge statement. With everyone questioning their validity as a top-10 team and a possible undefeated College Football Playoff contender, the Wolverines had firm control of a road game against rival Michigan State.

Then, things fell apart. Michigan was outscored 23-10 in the second half and a game-sealing interception from Cade McNamara in the final moments sealed the 37-33 loss, the Wolverines’ first of the season.

However, this game wasn’t without some controversy as to how Michigan football got led to their first defeat of the 2021 campaign. There were a number of bad calls by the officiating crew that certainly seem like they played a big hand in the result and, ultimately, screwed Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines over.

Michigan football: 3 bad calls that screwed the Wolverines in Michigan State loss

3. Kenneth Walker’s “touchdown”

Admittedly, Michigan football came out in the second half and wasn’t playing with the same gusto as they had been. Some of the best evidence of that would be early in the fourth quarter when they had a 30-22 lead but the defense then allowed Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III to get loose for a 58-yard touchdowns — or at least what was called a touchdown.

When looking at the review, it appears that the running back flips the ball up in the air — or at least begins to — before crossing the goal line. That would make the result of the play a fumble out of the end zone for a touchback, which would’ve taken six points and the subsequent two-point conversion off the board.

Instead, the call of a touchdown stood, which was a theme of controversial calls for the rivalry game.

2. Payton Thorne being ruled down on a fumble

When Michigan was dominating the action, their defense was definitely leading the charge. But on one play, it seemed as if the Wolverines didn’t get the credit that they deserved on that side of the ball, namely not getting awarded a turnover that they possibly should’ve been.

Late in the second quarter with Michigan already up 20-14, star defensive end David Ojabo got after Payton Thorne and brought him to the turn with the ball popping out. The refs initially ruled it was a fumble, which Hutchinson recovered in the end zone. However, it went to a review.

Whether or not he actually fumbled before he went to the ground or not, the fact of the matter is that there is absolutely not conclusive evidence that he had control. Thus, with the call on the field being a fumble, that’s what should’ve stood. Instead, the refs overturned it.

Even with the Wolverines forcing a punt and scoring a field goal on the next drive, those four points obviously would’ve proved critical for the end result.

1. No-call on next-to-last Wolverines possession for turnover on downs

The absolute worst call of the game to go against the Wolverines came on their next-to-last possession. Facing a fourth-and-3, McNamara looked the way of his top target, Cornelius Johnson, on a crossing route. It fell incomplete but it looked pretty blatant that the Spartans defender was holding him.

Understanding that refs don’t want their calls to dictate the outcome of the game, that’s a call the officials have to make. The game literally hinges on that for Michigan (or at least mostly does) and that’s an obvious penalty that didn’t even need the replay to be seen.

On a day where there were a lot of calls that didn’t go the way of Michigan football, this was bar none the most egregious.

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