Big Ten officials are known for being notoriously bad. So it's not a big shock that refs missed a call in the first quarter of the game between Michigan football and Oregon.
Oregon advanced the ball to the two-yard line of Michigan and was facing a third-and-goal. Dillon Gabriel threw the ball to Evan Stewart. It looked like he caught it live, but on the review, which was shown late, Stewart clearly dropped the ball.
Oregon scores a TD
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 2, 2024
CBS shows a replay of the ball being dropped.
But not until after the extra point.
Oh and the B1G ref who called it a TD was looking right at it.
“Too late now” says Gary Danielson.
Come on, everybody. pic.twitter.com/8UifwohfHY
— GBM Wolverine (@GBM_Wolverine) November 2, 2024
The replay also showed the official looking right at the play. How did he not see the ball bounce? It wasn't even a close call or anything it should have been easy.
Beyond that, this is exactly why we have replay. The replay officials should have stopped the game. The Big Ten's own replay rules state that End Zone plays are subject to review so Michigan football shouldn't have had to do anything in order to have the call overturned.
It should have happened automatically. Of course, anyone who watches Big Ten games regularly knows that the only people who are more incompetent than the officials on the field are the guys in the replay booth.
Even when there is clear evidence they will refuse to change calls or uphold them. But this is one of the worst I have seen. Maybe Oregon goes for it and gets it. That one play probably isn't going to be the difference in a win or loss but it could be.
You just never know and it's disappointing that a great defensive play was negated because the official staring right at the play missed it, just like the replay official.