The latest chapter of the vaunted Michigan-Ohio State rivalry added a moment of controversy to its lore on Saturday following an unbelievable play by Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
With No. 3 Michigan (11–0) leading, 7–3, in the second quarter, McCarthy fired a 22-yard strike to receiver Roman Wilson between two OSU defenders.
An official review followed McCarthy’s sensational TD pass as it appeared that the ball may have been picked off by Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke, who met Wilson head-on. The review ultimately resulted in an official ruling of a touchdown, sparking a debate online over whether McCarthy’s dart should’ve stood as a score or been reversed to a turnover.
9 ➡️ 1 pic.twitter.com/lG8GbgoLyM
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 25, 2023
As video of the debated play circulated online, the highlight quickly turned into a point of contention, with some fans flooding the “That’s a TD” trend on X, formerly known as Twitter, in defense of No. 3 Ohio State (11-0). And, given how heated the storied rivalry is, the debate will likely rage on long after the final whistle:
I actually don't think it was even close. The ball's moving because his arms are moving. That's a catch and TD. https://t.co/gDRTzIl7m4
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 25, 2023
Should this have been an interception for Denzel Burke?
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/i0Js5rok0h
That’s a TD, but why didn’t 25 play the ball?
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) November 25, 2023
THATS A PIIICKKKK!!! https://t.co/RP4jmq9fd8
— Justin Hilliard (@JHilliard47) November 25, 2023
No. He caught the ball, took 2 steps, crossed the plane of the end zone. Anything that happened after doesn’t matter. https://t.co/9UxYf5LNk9
— Sidelines - Clemson (@SSN_Clemson) November 25, 2023
JJ McCarthy fit that touchdown pass in a window that was roughly the size of a cantaloupe.
— Scott Bell (@sbell021) November 25, 2023
Yes.
— Nick Manchester (@NickManchester9) November 25, 2023
The receiver didn’t control the ball long enough to become a runner, and didn’t complete the process of the catch https://t.co/slCzKNkhf3
If that hits the ground, it’s an incomplete pass. So why is it not an interception? https://t.co/rvoliQDW8c
— Luke Parrish (@LukeParrish_NFL) November 25, 2023
Impossible to overturn in my opinion https://t.co/MgBXDC6i9g
— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) November 25, 2023
This was CLOSE
— Ben Larimore (@larimore_ben) November 25, 2023
I don’t envy the replay official on this one. https://t.co/ZnCDec82yr
CONTROVERSY IN MICHIGAN ????
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 25, 2023
Roman Wilson’s touchdown was confirmed by the refs but Ohio State fans felt it should have been ruled an interception…
Touchdown or interception? ???? pic.twitter.com/gzmAFaxxXi
