However, the celebrations stopped for a moment. Officials sent the play for review because replays showed Smith fumbling the ball near the end zone. Key question: Did Smith regain full control before going out of bounds, or was it a fumble that should have resulted in a Michigan touchback?
Despite slow-motion angles indicating Smith may be out of bounds during the second bubble, the on-field decision will stand. The touchdown was counted, primarily because replay was not conclusive enough to overturn the original call, a decision that immediately angered Michigan fans.
Michigan responded on the next possession, driving methodically downfield before drilling a 49-yard field goal to pull within 10–9 just before halftime.
“This is a terrible call in the Michigan game. Jeremiah Smith got it very clearly wrong and it should have been the Michigan ball and a touchback,” wrote a fan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“If we’re calling it a touchdown then I don’t know what state our game has come to. Jeremiah Smith coughing up the ball yards before the end zone.” Another added.
Smith and Carnell Tate, who were both out with injuries, took the field Saturday against Michigan. Both missed the WR Buckeyes’ 42-9 loss to Rutgers last weekend. Head coach Ryan Day said he was ‘day-to-day’.
“They’re going to get some rest tonight, had a good day of rehab. So we’ll wake up in the morning and see how they’re doing, but nobody wants to play more than those two guys,” Day said at the time.
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