Michigan fans immediately see Ohio State home-cooking from refs on grounding call (Video)
If Michigan fans came into The Game uneasy about the refs with Ohio State playing at home, an early grounding call didn’t do anything to subside that.
Particularly with a rivalry like the one between Michigan and Ohio State, there is always going to be a more watchful eye on the officiating than normal. That’s especially true when the visiting fans see something that seems quite bad in favor of the home team.
So in the first quarter of The Game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, the fans claiming Ann Arbor watching the proceedings in Columbus were quick to point out a truly bad call.
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy dropped back to pass and was immediately met by heavy Ohio State pressure. As he was being spun around, he threw the ball out to his left where the ball hit an offensive lineman and then tumbled to the turf. The refs then threw a flag for intentional grounding saying specifically that there was no receiver in the area.
The problem with that is that running back Donovan Edwards was clearly close to and on the line of the throw but the pressure caused the ball to come up short.
https://twitter.com/iam_johnw/status/1596558452838764545
Refs screw Michigan with awful grounding call at Ohio State
That certainly looks like it might be a bit of home-cooking in favor of the Buckeyes and that the refs seriously cost the Wolverines, especially since it made it second-and-20 and eventually forced them to kick a field goal to make the game 7-3.
And as you’d expect, Michigan fans were less than thrilled with the bogus and costly call from the refs.
I’m a Michigan fan… but is these refs cheating? All three penalties were… off. Facemask with no face grip, or pull. Intentional grounding on a screen… and a missed offsides on 3rd down. Like am I tripping?
— My AI fine… I’m not. (@Dmuthalovinmase) November 26, 2022
What is that intentional grounding flag? Refs in Columbus screwing Michigan early. Shouldn’t be surprised I suppose. Happens every other year in that god forsaken stadium.
— James Cooper (@MrCooperMU) November 26, 2022
Did Michigan not have a screen set on that side? Maybe it was illegal touching, not grounding though.
— Andrew (@AndrewSpruill_) November 26, 2022
The ref in the Ohio State/Michigan game after they said the intentional grounding call was valid. Doesn’t seem biased at all. pic.twitter.com/VngwbdDoQK
— lil yeeyee (@Philcanread) November 26, 2022
That’s a bad call for Michigan. RB was in the flat. Shouldn’t have been intentional grounding.
— Organic. 🍊 (@Its_Millz_) November 26, 2022
Horrible intention grounding call against Michigan. If UM lineman doesn’t hit ball mid-air it’s darn close to Edwards and no penalty.
— Noah (@noah_4_hskrs) November 26, 2022
There it is, the calls going to Ohio State. Edwards was behind the lineman on that "grounding" call. #GoBlue #Michigan
— Jeff Paul (@ItzMeJP_16) November 26, 2022
To be fair, McCarthy had continued his look of not being entirely sharp or composed under pressure, so he definitely wasn’t blameless for Michigan falling into an early hole early.
However, that questionable-at-best grounding call isn’t going to help matters, especially on the road.
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