In one of the most thrilling college football games of the year, the No. 3 Oregon Ducks pulled off a stunning 32-31 upset over the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium last Saturday.
The victory, witnessed by a record-breaking crowd in Eugene, marked the first-ever top-five showdown at the venue and saw Oregon secure a monumental win in a game that featured seven lead changes and national title implications for both teams.
While the Ducks celebrated the narrow victory, controversy quickly emerged regarding a pivotal officiating decision late in the fourth quarter, leaving Ohio State head coach Ryan Day frustrated and prompting FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt to criticize the call that may have cost the Buckeyes the game.
The tense moment came as Ohio State was driving deep into Oregon territory, needing only a field goal to clinch victory.
With less than a minute on the clock, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard connected with standout freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who advanced the ball to Oregonās 18-yard line. But the play was called back after officials flagged Smith for offensive pass interference, claiming he pushed off Ducks cornerback Nikko Reed to create separation.
The 15-yard penalty knocked Ohio State out of field goal range, and the Buckeyes were unable to recover before time expired.
Klatt made it perfectly clear that he was not a fan of the controversial call.
“I was shocked watching the game that they called the offensive pass interference,” Klatt said on his Joel Klatt Show podcast.
“I talk with officials all the time, and generally speaking, here’s what it comes down to. For offensive pass interference, they want to see a clear extension.
“Was there contact between Jeremiah Smith and the corner? Yes. Was it physical? Yes, there’s no doubt. On the film, all night it had been physical.”
Klatt pointed out that the officiating had allowed significant hand-fighting between receivers and defensive backs throughout the game, with only two pass interference calls made – one of which was negated by an offsetting penalty.
This inconsistency, he argued, made the late-game call all the more controversial.
“He doesn’t push off in order to create the space, and still the flag comes out,” Klatt continued. “I thought it was a bad call, point blank … The fact that the flag comes out there I thought was a poor call.”
Ohio State fans werenāt the only ones upset with the officiating.
Oregon supporters were quick to highlight questionable decisions earlier in the game, particularly on Ohio Stateās opening drive.
Ducks linebacker Jeffrey Bassa appeared to intercept a deep pass while rolling over an Ohio State tight end, but the officials ruled it a completed pass. Despite calls for a review, play continued, and Ohio State capitalized by scoring a touchdown just a few plays later.
The broadcastās rules analyst even confirmed that the play should have been reviewed, stating that the interception should have stood.
In a game of such magnitude, where both teams proved their national championship potential, these calls loomed large. Yet despite the controversy, Oregon emerged victorious, with head coach Dan Lanning and his Ducks now solidifying their case as one of the top teams in the country.
Meanwhile, Ohio State will no doubt look for redemption – and fans on both sides are already eyeing a potential rematch at the Big Ten Championship Game in December. (And perhaps another one after that.)
What are your thoughts on Klatt’s comments? … Do you think it was a bad call?
Was the officiating in OSU-Oregon better or worse than what we saw last night at the Meadowlands???
