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The Michigan Wolverines almost saw their outstanding 2022 season go down in flames on Saturday. The third-ranked Wolverines came into their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at 10-0 and one win away from a massive showdown with rival Ohio State.
But perhaps the Wolverines got caught looking ahead against the surprisingly 7-3 Fighting Illini. The Wolverines struggled to get going and went into the half leading up 7-3. That was just the tip of the iceberg for Jim Harbaugh’s squad. Superstar running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Blake Corum also left the game with a knee injury prior to the half. Corum did not return to the contest. While backup running back Donovan Edwards missed the game as well for undisclosed reasons.
Illinois took advantage of that fact out of the half. The Fighting Illini outscored Michigan 14-3 in the third quarter and took a shocking 17-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Slow but surely, the Wolverines and senior kicker Jack Moody chipped away.
Moody hit from 41 yards out to make it 17-13 with 12:31 remaining. He then drilled one from 33 yards to cut the lead to 17-16 with 3:14 to play. With just over two minutes remaining, Michigan got the ball back near midfield with a chance to win the ball game.
Michigan Benefits From A Pair Of Dubious Calls To Avoid Illinois Upset
It appeared as if the Wolverines’ drive would quickly stall. They quickly faced 4th-and-3 from the Illini 45-yard-line. But quarterback JJ McCarthy found running back Isaiah Gash for a big first down. Though it appears the play probably should not have stood.
Michigan saved again by refs.
How is this not a pick play? You can block now before a pass? pic.twitter.com/R8pTgeuQkl
— Andrew_M (@TheParlayDad) November 19, 2022
College football fans did not love the apparent blown call.
You just expect it at this point. The Illini players and coaches deserved better than the shitshow officiating they got this year and the Big Ten should be ashamed of itself. https://t.co/wu3pnIwoIP
— Bob Zuppke (@BobZuppke) November 19, 2022
this is brutal https://t.co/ieg21WWvNf
— Spencer (@sbp_21) November 19, 2022
Oh that's *brutal* https://t.co/cJBX4pgOnw
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) November 19, 2022
But that wasn’t all. Later in the drive, McCarthy hit wideout Cornelius Johnson for a 5-yard completion over the middle. Referees review the catch and ultimately upheld the call, but the ball clearly hit the ground.
A big catch for Michigan! But it’s reviewed and it stands! CFBPlayoff #Illinois #ILLvsMICH pic.twitter.com/fHCWrKPvVT
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) November 19, 2022
Once again, fans were fired up.
Next, they somehow didn’t (???) overturn this “catch” call. The ball very clearly hits the ground and moves, so the receiver used the ground to aid the catch. It’s the difference between Illinois having 9 seconds to drive into FG range versus 25-30 seconds to drive into FG range. https://t.co/8c6Maeln3i
— Dan (@dannah__montana) November 19, 2022
this the reason i be saying college sports are scripted cause come on bro lol https://t.co/zuP9po7iW0
— jay (@jvylenn) November 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/Cr3designs/status/1594068058041356289?s=20&t=NmyOBrtRahaVXohGfQQ-6g
Moments later, Moody banged home a 35-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, to keep the Wolverines undefeated heading into “The Game” next week in Columbus.
It wasn’t pretty. And it may not have been fair. But you are what your record saying you are, and Michigan is now 11-0.