Michigan fans had Patrick Mahomes and just about everyone on Twitter agreeing with them that the refs screwed the Wolverines by reversing a TD call.
It didn’t take long for Fiesta Bowl refs to inject some controversy into the College Football Playoff.
In the second quarter, Michigan had a critical touchdown taken off the board at the goal line and the result was devastating.
The Wolverines had fallen behind 14 points to TCU after just one quarter. They knocked through a field goal then really got the momentum going with an interception on a tipped pass. On the first play after the turnover, J.J. McCarthy hit Roman Wilson for a 50-yard touchdown over the top.
However, refs looked at the play and called the receiver short of the goal line. Most of the time, a reversal like that wouldn’t matter in the long run. This time, it was a disaster for Michigan because they promptly fumbled a handoff and gave possession back to the Horned Frogs.
Twitter rarely comes together on controversial calls, but most people seemed to agree with Michigan fans that the refs had botched the call.
Patrick Mahomes and Michigan fans think refs screwed up TD call
I don’t even like Michigan but the player literally bobbles it and gets possession in the end zone so it should’ve been a td . Can’t miss this call in a game with this high stakes pic.twitter.com/dcAU3bUJsr
— John (@iam_johnw) December 31, 2022
No way that was short lol and then a fumble 🤣🤣🤣
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 31, 2022
a lot of people unclear on why that Michigan touchdown was overturned. It's actually pretty simple: Rule 8, Section 3, Paragraph IV of the NCAA rulebook states that refs can overturn a play if they think something very funny is about to happen
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 31, 2022
That call (wrong in my opinion) that overturned the Michigan touchdown is a massive moment now.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 31, 2022
That’s a ridiculous turn of events and frankly it’s a disgrace. That catch is absolutely a touchdown. And there’s why it matters. #Michigan
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 31, 2022
just randomly robbed Michigan of a touchdown for no reason whatsoever
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) December 31, 2022
I think reversing that Michigan TD was pretty brutal.
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) December 31, 2022
Yes - The WR’s knee was down at the half yard line. But the ball hadn’t arrived & he didn’t have control of the ball until his rear end was across the goal line.
That’s a huge miss.#CFBPlayoff
Horrible horrible overturn by replay on Michigan TD…indisputable evidence needed to overturn call on field…there was none…BS meter in the red!
— Jim Brandstatter (@jimbrandstatter) December 31, 2022
That ruling is the kind of thing that ruins big games. It bucks the idea of “clear and obvious evidence” to overturn the call. The receiver may have had a knee down as the ball came into his arms, but he didn’t establish possession until he was closer to the goal line. If he was short, the replays don’t show it indisputably.
Michigan has no excuses for the botched handoff at the goal line. It’s their fault they blew what should have been an easy touchdown in the aftermath of that review. However, the refs botched the call, plain and simple. If they hadn’t the Wolverines wouldn’t have had to worry about handoffs or fumbles.
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