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The Ohio State Buckeyes held on for a 21-17 home win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, but it wasn’t without a bit of controversy along the way.
The Huskers found themselves on the wrong end of a number of big referee decisions, and now the Big Ten has admitted that at least one of the calls was, in fact, incorrect.
Big Ten Chief Operating Officer Kerry Kenny released a statement on Monday revealing that referees incorrectly ruled Nebraska running back Emmet Johnson short of a first down late in the first half. As a result, the Cornhuskers lost precious time and ended up kicking a field goal.
Big Ten Refs Issue Statement After Incorrect Call In Nebraska-Ohio State Game
“During Nebraska’s final drive of the first half, on second down with two yards to gain on the Ohio State 39-yard line, the ball was incorrectly spotted after a run by Cornhuskers RB [Emmett] Johnson. The ball carrier crossed the 37-yard line and a first down should have been awarded to Nebraska,” the statement read “Replay should have stopped the game to review the spot since it involved the line-to-gain.”
Fans were up in arms over the call, even wondering if it was intentional.
“When an official misses a call so badly — not giving Nebraska a first down on Johnson’s run — you can’t help but wonder if there’s some sort of foul play going on. It’s really an egregious miss,” one Huskers fan tweeted.
A few plays later, Nebraska was called for an offensive pass interference call that turned a potential fourth-and-five at the Ohio State 30 into a third-and-20 at the OSU 45.
Ultimately, Nebraska had opportunities to win in the second half. It didn’t make the plays when it needed to. But in a game decided by four points, it’s hard not to wonder what happens if the officials get that call right.