Week 4 of the college football season featured an extremely odd call in a Big Ten matchup between the Michigan State Spartans and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The play in question occurred in the first quarter on a run play to Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim. The referees correctly identified a personal foul for illegal use of hands to the face. But they went on to issue Golden Gophers wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington with the penalty, even though it seemed he was the victim on this play at first glance
The replay provided by the Big Ten Network on the play appears to show that Michigan State cornerback Charles Brantley clearly had his hands in the face of Brockington.
A Michigan State-Minnesota play saw a "hands to the face" call against Minnesota. But the BTN replay only showed the Michigan State player using hands to the face. pic.twitter.com/IS6HBz57xw
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 24, 2022
On the surface, it looks like an extremely bad missed call. But the live play showed that Brockington was not without fault on the play.
That live footage shows Brockington retaliating by shoving Brantley near the head and neck ahead at the end of the play, with the flag being thrown shortly after.
However, the live play showed a possible shove back from the Minnesota player. pic.twitter.com/XIEVCGLdCc
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 24, 2022
It certainly still seems like the biggest infraction from both teams came from the Spartans. And many took to social media to express their confusion on the call.
they just called a penalty for illegal hands to the face against Minnesota when replay clearly showed MSU player shoving Gopher dude's head up with his facemask….?????????
— CornNation (@CornNation) September 24, 2022
They called that penalty on Minnesota but it was clearly the MSU guy doing the hands to the face on the replay right? And the announcers just didn’t even notice?
— Alex Drain (@Alex_Drain) September 24, 2022
I think the refs in the MSU game just penalized Minnesota for a hands-to-the-face committed by MSU?
— Bryan Mac (@Bry_Mac) September 24, 2022
It seems like both teams committed the foul, but the refs ultimately caught Minnesota in the act.
Luckily for Minnesota, this controversial penalty did not cost them. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan went on to throw a 23-yard pass to Daniel Jackson on said drive to extend their lead to 14-0.
Another one for @GopherFootball 🙌
Morgan ➡️ Jackson 🎯 pic.twitter.com/QG0JhJ09Z8
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 24, 2022
