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 on third-and-10 for a touchdown.
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. 2 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
