After TCU opened up a 14-0 lead on a heavily favored Michigan team in the Fiesta Bowl, the Wolverines seemed to get things going in their favor. They kicked a field goal to trim the deficit to 14-3, then appeared to score a touchdown. But a controversial ruling derailed Michigan.
The Wolverines intercepted a pass at midfield and quickly looked to take advantage. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy went deep and found a wide-open Roman Wilson for an apparent touchdown. Only, McCarthy caught the ball as he was going down. And while replays seemed to show that he didn’t possess the ball until crossing the goal line, Wilson was ruled down just short of the goal line.
Did Michigan get robbed of a touchdown here? pic.twitter.com/LGY4uJ7mgl
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 31, 2022
But Making matters worse for the Wolverines, the exchange between McCarthy and running back Kalel Mullings was botched on the following play, resulting in a fumble, which the Horned Frogs recovered for a touchback.
Absolutely brutal turn of events for Michigan. TCU recovers the fumble at the ONE YARD LINE. pic.twitter.com/JBs33XxwEK
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 31, 2022
After the fumble, football fans revisited Wilson controversially being ruled down.
Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic and Mike Greenberg of ESPN both felt that it was a touchdown.
“I really thought that should have been a touchdown. What a questionable replay,” Auerbach tweeted.
“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,” said Greenberg.
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1609309448593629184
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
Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times tweeted about officiating in general, saying “Officiating football is a tough job, but it’s worse than it’s ever been — in college and the NFL. So many important plays clearly called wrong, every week.”
Officiating football is a tough job, but it's worse than it's ever been — in college and the NFL. So many important plays clearly called wrong, every week. https://t.co/u6SmF3snV0
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) December 31, 2022
The Barroom Network account was more critical of the lack of cameras. “Getting robbed is the fan. Doing the crime is the NCAA and ESPN for not having the necessary cameras positioned to insure better looks which result in more accurate calls.
Getting robbed is the fan. Doing the crime is the NCAA and ESPN for not having the necessary cameras positioned to insure better looks which result in more accurate calls. https://t.co/57vmxxhSjq
— Barroom Network – Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) December 31, 2022
Ben Ross of the Pac-12 Network, meanwhile, had a slightly different take — which was hard to argue with.
“It was a bad call, but also don’t fumble on 1st down at the 1-foot line,” he said.
It was a bad call, but also don’t fumble on 1st down at the 1-foot line https://t.co/7Tr0nB1R9y
— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) December 31, 2022
While Awful announcing said that “We may be talking about this call tomorrow…”
We may be talking about this call tomorrow… https://t.co/Fd50Hv86ns
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 31, 2022
Michigan appeared to be victimized by another controversy in the sequence. On the interception that set the Wolverines up, Rod Moore appeared to be down at TCU’s 49-yard line. Yet, the Michigan possession began two yards back, on the Wolverines 49.
It’s true that Michigan’s fumble made these rulings a lot more controversial. If the Wolverines had scored a touchdown on the possession, the questionable spots on the interception and Wilson’s reception would have been footnotes. But, that didn’t happen. What did happen will certainly be a talking point going forward.
