Virginia Tech’s overturned Hail Mary touchdown on Friday may not have been the worst referee call in Week 5. On Saturday, Minnesota saw their comeback bid against Michigan wiped out by a phantom offside penalty on a recovered onside kick in the game’s final moments.
False Offside Penalty on Onside Kick Wipes Out Minnesota’s Comeback Bid vs. Michigan
After a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to make the score 27-24, the Golden Gophers attempted an onside kick with 1:37 remaining in the contest. Not only did they recover it, but the ball was at Michigan’s 38-yard line, increasing Minnesota’s odds of at least kicking the game-tying field goal.
Instead, the referees called offsides the kicking team, a penalty that is not reviewable.
MINNESOTA RECOVERS THE ONSIDE KICK BUT A FLAG IS CALLED 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/d8PUckrczb
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2024
Following the call, FOX Sports Rules Analysts Mike Pereira said what everyone was thinking on the broadcast: “I don’t think he’s offside.”
Regardless, Michigan took over, ran the ball three times, and secured its 27th consecutive victory over a Big Ten opponent.
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck was asked about the call at his postgame press conference and responded, “I didn’t see it. We’ve practiced that every day — time it up right there on the edge cause you have to be if you’re going to recover one of those. … ‘Breaking the plane,’ those were the words that were quoted.”
While the botched call will receive most of the attention, it’s important to realize how the Golden Gophers got into the situation. They entered the fourth quarter down 24-3 before going on a 21-3 run.
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Minnesota finished with two more penalties, 117 fewer rushing yards (averaged only 1.5 per attempt), and two turnovers (one fumble and one interception) on the day.
Ultimately, the program’s inability to execute for the majority of the game cost them the win, not the controversial call.
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