Ohio State had to grind out a win over Nebraska this past Saturday. The Buckeyes didn’t play their best game by any measure, but there certainly were some officiating mishaps that left fans on both sides incensed.
The Cornhuskers were victims of an egregious call late in the second quarter when the referees spotted a ball a full two yards short of what the runner gained. The short spot left Nebraska with a third down instead of a first down. Ultimately, the Huskers would convert and get a field goal, but still, two yards short?
And then there was the targeting call late in the game against Arvell Reese. While it was a violent hit, the scoreboard replay showed the receiver caught the ball and took two steps before Reese lowered the boom, jarring the ball loose. After review, the officials confirmed the receiver did in fact make the catch but ruled that Reese was guilty of targeting.
The call sent both the fans and head coach Ryan Day into a frenzy, with some fans throwing debris on the field and Day getting a warning for his outburst over the injustice.
We learned on Monday that Ohio State appealed the call and the NCAA ruled that the penalty shouldn’t have been made, overturning the pennance.
Why is that important? Because the call was made late in the game, Reese would’ve had to sit the first half of the Penn State game this Saturday. Now that justice has been served, Reese will be available for the entire game.
OSU says they filed an appeal to the Big Ten Conference on behalf of Arvell Reese. The Big Ten went to the NCAA Football Secretary Rules-Editor and, after review, it was determined that this was not targeting. Arvell's won't be suspended for the first half vs Penn State: pic.twitter.com/NayuZDGXVE
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) October 28, 2024
The sophomore linebacker is quickly becoming an impact player for the Buckeye defense. Having Reese available for the entire game against the Nittany Lions is huge news for Ohio State.
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