Big Ten: We Didn't Goof the Michigan State–Nebraska Ending

By D.J. Byrnes on November 9, 2015 at 9:09 am
Nebraska should've lost.
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Michigan State fell from the undefeated ranks on Saturday in no small thanks to Nebraska WR Brandon Reilly's fourth quarter reception from QB Tommy Armstrong with 17 seconds remaining. Reilly appeared to go out of bounds on his own accord before re-entering the field and making the grab, which would be illegal.

Replay seemed to show little to no contact between Reilly and MSU DB Jermaine Edmondson, but the play was upheld and the Cornhuskers escaped with the win.

While many pundits and fans (author included) questioned the call, the Big Ten says it was not wrong.

From ESPN.com:

"Per NCAA rules, the instant replay crew cannot review the severity of contact, as that is a judgment call handled by the officials on the field," the Big Ten said in a statement to ESPN.com. "If the player went out of bounds without contact, he may not return to the field to make the catch unless it has been touched first by an opponent. The instant replay crew did confirm contact between the players, that the wide receiver reestablished himself in the field of play and completed the catch. After the replay review, the referee announced that the play stands as called on the field. The intent of instant replay is not to review all judgment calls."

Sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to me. If I were a Michigan State fan, I'd still be hot:


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