It wouldn’t be a big football game without some shoddy refereeing.
Pundits questioned one holding call and a non-call that went Michigan’s way in its 34-13 win over Washington in the national title game Monday.
While two penalties don’t account for 21 points on the scoreboard, one call wiped out a huge gain by Washington in a one-score game.
Michigan led 20-13 with less than 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. found Rome Odunze for a 32-yard gain to the Michigan 35-yard line.
But some yellow laundry was on the field.
The referees flagged tackle Roger Rosengarten for holding, pushing Washington into a second-and-20.
The Huskies ultimately punted.
While it’s not a given that Washington would have scored a touchdown, it marked the Huskies’ last true chance to score.
Former Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz tweeted: “Ehhh. Washington’s RT recovered pretty well there. Not my favorite holding call.”
That punt loomed large since Michigan put the game away with a five-play, 71-yard touchdown drive on the ensuing possession to go ahead by 14 points with 7:09 remaining.
The first play of that drive featured Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy finding tight end Colston Loveland for a 41-yard gain that put the Wolverines at the Huskies’ 30-yard line.
That play, though, featured a noticeable hold by Michigan right tackle Trente Jones on Washington’s Zion Tupuola-Fetui.
Had that been called, Michigan would have faced a 1st-and-20 at its own 19-yard line.
The game-changing call one end and the non-call on the other didn’t sit well with those watching the game.
Tim Tebow tweeted: “Really tough holding call after some of the ones they missed for Michigan.”
Mike Golic Jr. quote tweeted a screenshot of the blatant hold: “just inexcusably bad, especially after the hold that completely changed the last drive for UW.”
The game all but ended after that touchdown when Penix threw an interception on the next drive that Michigan turned into a touchdown for the final points.