Look: Another Very Controversial Ruling In Michigan-Michigan State Game
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans leads his team onto the field against the Indiana Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium on November 14, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Controversy will unfortunately be the story of Saturday's marquee Michigan-Michigan State clash if the Spartans come back and win this afternoon's game.
Late in the second quarter, Michigan linebacker David Ojabo strip-sacked Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne. The ball rolled into the end-zone before Wolverines star Aidan Hutchinson recovered it for a touchdown to make it a 26-14 Michigan lead.
The refs reviewed the play to check whether or not Thorne was down before he fumbled the ball. Replay appeared to confirm it was a clean fumble before Thorne hit the ground. The replay center somehow saw otherwise. The officials overturned the call, ruling Thorne down before the fumble occurred and taking a Michigan defensive touchdown off the board.
We have no clue how the officials came to that conclusion. This is an absurdly bad call.
What on earth did the refs see here that the general public didn't?
It's fairly clear Thorne lost control of the football before he was down by contact.
"Michigan State’s QB was not on the ground before the ball came loose. Clear as day. Absurdly bad call," one fan said.
"Wow did Michigan just get TOTALLY hosed. That was absolutely a Payton Thorne fumble and a Wolverine TD," another said.
"Not sure how the Big Ten replay crew can reverse that fumble call," one fan complained.
Let's hope Michigan-Michigan State isn't decided by just a few points. Michigan has every reason to be upset if it does.
Catch the second half of Michigan-Michigan State on FOX.
