The officiating crew for this Saturday’s game between Michigan and Oregon is receiving a lot of criticism on social media, and frankly, it’s all warranted.
During the first quarter of action, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel delivered a pass to Evan Stewart in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown. However, the slow-motion replay that CBS aired on TV showed that Stewart didn’t have full possession of the football. Despite how clear it was, the call on the field was upheld.
Michigan tied up the score with a touchdown drive of its own shortly after Oregon grabbed a 7-0 lead, but this mistake from the officials could loom large, especially if this game is close in the second half.
As you’d expect, college football fans around the country are blasting the officials for ruling this a touchdown for Oregon.
“They should probably actually review scoring plays like they say they do. This is blatant,” one fan tweeted.
“Officiating is pathetic,” another fan wrote on X.
“Big Ten refs really picking up the mantle left by Pac-12 refs,” a third fan said.
Another look at the Oregon TD shows the ball may have hit the ground on the catch
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/rDEe53I6cV
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
This might seem like an exaggeration, but missed calls like this are an awful look for the sport. Marquee games like this can’t afford to have referees who are unable to see a clear drop in the end zone.
Michigan fans have every right to feel like their team was cheated in this particular situation.
If Michigan wants to win this game, it has to find a way to slow down Oregon’s passing attack. And if it can’t do that, then there’s no point in blaming the referees.
Oregon has a two-possession lead over Michigan. The second half of this game will be televised on CBS.
Related: James Franklin Got Into Argument With Fan After Loss To Ohio State