[Highlight] Ohio State vs. Indiana: OSU's Jermaine Mathews called for an RTP on Josh Hoover on 2nd and 15

[u/A_MASSIVE_PERVERT]

https://streamable.com/jgjnhw

[u/esports_consultant]

I guess because it's a hit attempt rather than a tackle attempt but that timing is not excessively late.

[u/AmidoBlack → u/esports_consultant]

Not late at all, he’s driving the shoulder before the ball leaves. Facemask contact was incidental per the overturn

[u/onelegonedream → u/esports_consultant]

absolute awful call. Hoover threw it quick because he was about to get hit

[u/Ickyhouse → u/onelegonedream]

And threw it to a place where no receiver was. Which was an intentional grounding for OSU the previous drive. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned

[u/ImminentShadows → u/esports_consultant]

On a closer replay it showed he hit the neck/bottom facemask area. Was close and shocked when it was called

[u/NotMittRomney → u/ImminentShadows]

the replay booth said that was incidental. he hit the shoulder first.

[u/samhasreturned]

This game was peak refball

[u/cmgriffith_ → u/samhasreturned]

Big Ten officiating in 2026 overall has been atrocious. Every week the Big Ten has released a statement how a game was officiated incorrectly. I wonder what Monday will bring

[u/runningwaffles19 → u/cmgriffith_]

Makes you miss last year where they just didn't call holding but got most everything else right

[u/Dr_Nebbiolo → u/samhasreturned]

Refball both ways all game. Yepp

[u/bbshock21 → u/samhasreturned]

This week could be refball extravaganza. Washington vs Purdue was awful 

[u/conebread53 → u/samhasreturned]

Was it just me, or was Charlie B getting absolutely mugged on every route?

[u/omgdiepls]

That's horseshit.

[u/SurnameFrost]

At this point just hug the QB until they blow the whistle. You clearly can’t cause them pain in any way

[u/Practical_Virus5794]

Intentional grounding

[u/Schristie007 → u/Practical_Virus5794]

Hoover had two today that they didn’t call but they made sure to call it on Fahey. Abysmal officiating across the board kept this a game.

[u/ALotOfLobster → u/Practical_Virus5794]

Why wasnt it called intentional grounding?

[u/Practical_Virus5794 → u/ALotOfLobster]

No clue. Was never mentioned on the broadcast.

The receiver and QB weren’t on the same page, and it sailed way beyond him.

[u/Different_Pin8231 → u/Practical_Virus5794]

Called it on OSU on a very similar play the drive literally right before

[u/bicranium → u/Different_Pin8231]

There was another play earlier in the game where Hoover should have been called for grounding and wasn't. Then we get called for it. Then Hoover gets away with it again AND they throw a bullshit RTP on top of it. I was... displeased.

[u/Not_Pablo_Sanchez → u/Practical_Virus5794]

I was extra irate at the awful RTP penalty because I thought the flag was coming out for intentional grounding. Then they missed a blatant hold that let Hoover get that throw off on 4th down. Marsh stepping out of bounds felt like a “ball don’t lie” moment.

[u/TheBourbonTurtle → u/ALotOfLobster]

Because the refs were awful?

[u/RdditBlwsMyD → u/ALotOfLobster]

Because he wasn't wearing an OSU jersey.

[u/iwearatophat → u/ALotOfLobster]

WR on that side stemmed his route, couldn't see if it was a hitch or what. Miscommunications like that almost always don't result in intentional grounding.

[u/Practical_Virus5794 → u/iwearatophat]

When it’s 20 yards past they almost always do. If it’s a slight miss they aren’t.

[u/jrh038 → u/Practical_Virus5794]

When the flag came out, I thought this was the call.

[u/ilovedogsandtits → u/Practical_Virus5794]

I immediately thought that too

[u/thatusenameistaken]

His last step the QB still had the ball. He didn't hit high, lead with his head or hit the QB's head, neck, or back.

What the actual fuck.

edit: I've watched it again in slow mo now that the game's over, and i just don't see it. Are QBs just immune now? It's already bullshit enough that you can't hit them as a runner to the point that QBs ruthlessly taunt the defense after a scramble where they stay standing up but tease like they're gonna slide.

Now you just can't hit them at all?

[u/mr_antman85 → u/thatusenameistaken]

You said it. QBs can't get him.

[u/FlounderingWolverine → u/thatusenameistaken]

I mean I guess maybe they're looking for the defender to wrap up instead of just hitting? But man, this is a charming-soft RTP call.

And I'm not a guy who is big on the "let's go back to the good ole days when you could actually hit people", either. But football is a contact sport. You have to let the players hit each other. This is a textbook hit, like you said: not high, not late, not leading with the crown of the helmet, and not landing on a QB. What is the defender supposed to do, short of baking them a tray of cookies and bringing them a glass of milk with it?

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/thatusenameistaken]

You’ve left off a couple details that explain it well. It’s Indiana at home this season against OSU. They gave them every call. Just like in the Big10 chip last season. Only difference was that Indiana this year isn’t all 5th and 6th years.

[u/Ok-Throat-1549 → u/heliosflama1234]

The refs were just ass all game. That first pick could have been flagged, multiple deep shots to Becker could have been flagged, they called 2 awful RTP penalties and wouldn’t call a hold for shit.

The refs were not doing anyone any favors and made watching the game pretty hard.

[u/LGNDKILLA]

the rouging the passer rule (and the defenseless runner qb rule) are absolute horse shit and need to be changed

[u/el_pobby]

I hate OSU as much as the next guy but like, that is ticky-tack as hell.

[u/Kozmog]

Gene said it was cause he hit the neck area, which he clearly doesn't. How are you supposed to hit a guy? And when he said his neck moved, do they realize that his neck is connected to his torso, so if the chest gets hit the neck goes with it...

[u/dynamic-burrito → u/Kozmog]

Supposed to grab him by the back of the neck and give him a little forehead kiss before gently laying him down. Sometimes you’ll get called if you forget the pillow

[u/ConditionStrange7487 → u/dynamic-burrito]

grady jarrett did this vs brady in tampa and still got called for roughing. I will never let that flag go

[u/Requiem2371 → u/Kozmog]

He 1000% makes contact with the facemask. It’s a bad call but damn some of yall need to get your eyes checked.

[u/Rickys_Lineup_Card → u/Requiem2371]

I mean I’m obviously biased but it’s very clear he goes helmet to facemask. Yes, his shoulder also contacts Hoover’s chest, but his helmet nails the facemask. I can understand the argument that it shouldn’t be called but so many people refuting that obvious fact is shocking to me

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/Rickys_Lineup_Card]

I mean I’m also biased but has there been another case of a fan base getting CTE from a shoulder hit that was at the arm level of a QB?

[u/Requiem2371 → u/Rickys_Lineup_Card]

Now we get downvoted for having functioning eyes lol. Reddit moment

[u/Lobster_fest → u/Kozmog]

Is the face mask not the head and neck area? I dont think this RTP or Targeting, but there is definitely hard contact to the head and neck area.

[u/the_D1CKENS → u/Kozmog]

He kinda does, but it clearly wasn't intentional. He obviously pulled up and hit him in the chest with his shoulder. The contact to the head/neck was incidental.

I don't like it, but it's fine..and it's better than him laying into the dude

[u/parkowl]

Truly cannot hit a QB anymore

[u/samhit_n]

Ball don’t lie! And in this case, the field didn’t either.

[u/Wide_right_yes]

What's the defender supposed to do there? Have a magic momentum stopper?

[u/bigmt99 → u/Wide_right_yes]

I mean technically, wrap up and hit him in the waist

Don’t agree with the call, but why even give the refs a chance

[u/tOSUBUCKEYES_ → u/bigmt99]

And then you risk landing on top of him which is also a foul

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/bigmt99]

If you wrap him then they call rtp for coming down with him. No winning

[u/TTTTTT-9 → u/heliosflama1234]

You gotta wrap and roll off while the qb is falling. Not that that's natural or easy, but that's what the smart players are doing to get out of it in the NFL.

[u/Cheatercheaterbitch → u/bigmt99]

The game is made for offense. Defenders have to tip toe around so many bullshit rules these days

[u/OddMammoth1 → u/Wide_right_yes]

I don’t think it helped that he had a movement that looked like he was loading up. I don’t think he was. I wouldn’t want it called on my team but it’s a borderline play.

[u/Agitated_Suspect2357 → u/OddMammoth1]

This is my thought at well. Don't really like the call but he was coming to balance when the ball was being released and uncoiled after the ball was gone. It's one he could have held up on

[u/PokesBo → u/Wide_right_yes]

Not shoulder tackle. Drop to the second level and wrap up.

[u/usedslinky → u/PokesBo]

You do that and get called roughing for landing on them

[u/tOSUBUCKEYES_ → u/PokesBo]

And then you would land on top of the QB for a free 15 lol

[u/georgesenpaii → u/PokesBo]

Ok so drop out of their passing motion so you have no chance to deflect the ball or their arm, and then make sure you wrap them up well enough to gently lay them on the grass. Yup totally fair for the defense.

[u/UsualActuary → u/PokesBo]

People who say this type of thing have clearly never played competitive tackle football. 

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/Wide_right_yes]

Not launch with his helmet pointed down. Any contact to the QBs helmet is a penalty. I’m glad he’s not ejected but cmon, that’s textbook.

[u/RulersBack → u/Coltshokiefan]

Yea weaker call but it's been clear for a decade plus this is how it's called. Don't put yourself in that position

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/RulersBack]

Exactly.  15 years ago that isn't called, but that is a routine modern RTP.  

For better or worse, QBs are protected to an extreme degree these days.

[u/UsualActuary → u/ReasonableCup604]

Worse. So obviously worse lol. 

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/RulersBack]

Very reasonable OSU fan. I’m sure more will come around now that the games over and you won.

[u/tOSUBUCKEYES_ → u/Coltshokiefan]

It was a terrible call. I don’t care if we won by 100

[u/Bacondog22 → u/Coltshokiefan]

He didn’t contact the helmet

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/Bacondog22]

He hit him in the facemask.

[u/inqte1 → u/ReasonableCup604]

Hit him in the side with his shoulder. Any contact of the facemask was incidental and fairly minimal. They admitted as much in the review when they took targetting away.

[u/SnukeInRSniz → u/Bacondog22]

He absolutely did, it's very clear on the replay angle from behind.

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/Bacondog22]

He very clearly did lol. Facemask is part of the helmet even the lower part of it.

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/Bacondog22]

He did contact it. Very incidentally but you can clearly see the contact.

[u/pro_nosepicker → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

If it’s incidental that’s irrelevant. Refs specifically said that.

Can’t go high. Can’t go low. Now you can’t go middle either.

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/pro_nosepicker]

Yeah it doesn't make it a flag, but I think it's important to be correct and you can see the contact. It's just incidental, not forcible which is the word used in the roughing definition.

[u/Key_Ad_621 → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

Like you said, incidentally, shouldn’t be a flag

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/Key_Ad_621]

Yes of course. But the other comment is wrong and mine is right.

I'm getting downvoted for being right and correcting someone who is wrong, because the wrong comment is taking the most maximal "not a flag" position and indeed it shouldn't have been a flag. Reddit is so stupid.

[u/Bacondog22 → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

It’s not about being right or wrong. It’s about owning the narrative.

[u/Enchanted-2-meet-you → u/Coltshokiefan]

He went with his fucking shoulder man are you blind😭

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/Enchanted-2-meet-you]

Still extremely obvious dropping of the crown and helmet to helmet contact.

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/Coltshokiefan]

Nothing obvious about dropping the helmet. I don’t know why you guys are lying about that. Take the quarterback out of the picture and just pay attention to his positioning.

[u/SnukeInRSniz → u/Coltshokiefan]

No idea why people are arguing, it's insanely clear on the video.

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/SnukeInRSniz]

OSU has a big fanbase. So they think because their opinions have upvotes means they’re right. The rule book is very clear on how this is a penalty.

[u/CilviaDemoAOTD → u/Wide_right_yes]

He’s supposed to not launch into the qb

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/CilviaDemoAOTD]

Luckily, that didn’t happen tho… like I don’t understand why people go out of their way too just want to believe something just because there was a flag. This is one of those things.

Kind of like being on a jury and automatically assuming guilt because of the fact someone was charged. The video evidence makes it obvious that this shouldn’t have been called

You’re not going to find any forceful contact to the head or neck. Incidental contact doesn’t count literally by the rule book.

[u/Fragrant-Employer-60 → u/CilviaDemoAOTD]

If the QB had the ball that’s not getting called. It was a legal tackle

[u/SnukeInRSniz → u/Wide_right_yes]

Don't lower your head with the crown of the helmet pointing into the chin and shoulder tackle someone? This is textbook RTP, I don't know why people are arguing, it's bad form and the crown of the helmet hits the QB's face guard.

[u/DLDude → u/SnukeInRSniz]

Did you watch a different video than I did? I've almost never seen a rusher so purposefully lead with a shoulder into a qbs chest.

[u/cheecheecago → u/SnukeInRSniz]

If you watch other angles he pulls his head aside and hits with his shoulder

[u/JosephNicoleSmith → u/SnukeInRSniz]

Might wanna look up where the crown of the helmet is chief

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/SnukeInRSniz]

The crown??? I’m sorry but maybe you should focus on golf or something.

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/SnukeInRSniz]

Nowhere did they lower their head with the crown of their helmet. You don’t get to just make shit up.

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/Human-Sheepherder797]

He literally fully drops his helmet before launching. Yes the shoulder hits first but the helmet is down and pops the QB in the facemask.

Based on the rules that’s a text book RTP.

[u/UsualActuary → u/Coltshokiefan]

Good call, keep your helmet up to guarantee a helmet to helmet hit. 

Get real, it's near impossible to cleanly hit a quarterback with the expectations some of you have. 

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/Coltshokiefan]

He literally doesn’t drop his helmet with absolutely no launching. There’s no launching Dude. None. Stop lying.

[u/UsualActuary → u/Human-Sheepherder797]

Some people's definition of "launch" is so funny. His feet barely left the ground. Basically if you bend your knees before tackling, you're "launching" 😂

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/UsualActuary]

It’s crazy how much they let their fandom override logic

[u/DLDude → u/Coltshokiefan]

The head bone is connected to the shoulder bone

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/DLDude]

Look at his helmet, it very clearly hits the QBs facemask. Read the rule

[u/SnukeInRSniz → u/Human-Sheepherder797]

I'm sorry, are you blind? The dude is literally looking at the ground and launching into the QB, that is textbook lowering the helmet. For fucks sake, at least learn the definitions and forms of shit you are arguing against.

[u/whitefang22 → u/SnukeInRSniz]

r/confidentlyincorrect

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/SnukeInRSniz]

You don’t know what the definition of launching this do you? Launching is propel yourself forward from one position to another. you can literally look at his feet running forward, that’s not launching.

It’s hilarious to me that you people are just going to lie for the sake of lying for some reason. The fact that you think this is roughing is hilarious and sad at the same time because we have video evidence and you don’t have any of the elements to call it that

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/SnukeInRSniz]

Who the fuck said you couldn’t put your head down? Do you not understand how it works with using the crown of your head? If your heads already in that position it doesn’t matter if it makes contact because we call that incidental contact.. meaning you were already in position before contact was made, you didn’t go out of your way to make that contact that way.

[u/Ok-Web-4971 → u/Wide_right_yes]

Hits the helmet. Soft call but it will be called regardless of the intent. 

[u/sixtoebandit → u/Wide_right_yes]

Apparate. Any wizard worth its salt can do it after turning 17.

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/Wide_right_yes]

I believe that it was the height of the contact rather than the timing that drew the flag.

[u/GucciGaropp → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

God forbid you hit a QB in the… body?

[u/chunkah69 → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

Not even close to a penalty

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/chunkah69]

I think you're right that it wasn't a penalty. Roughing still requires "forcible" contact to head or neck and I don't think this was forcible. But the point is that the momentum thing doesn't really matter here because I believe that it was the height of the contact rather than the timing that drew the flag.

[u/Human-Sheepherder797 → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

Yeah, people are legitimately going out of their way to not pay attention to how the contact was made, no forcible contact to the head or neck. I don’t know why people just want to lie about what you could actually see in slow motion, which is no contact to those areas.

[u/inqte1 → u/OnionFutureWolfGang]

The hit wasnt to the neck or head area. The hit was to the mid side. Its incidental contact from the whiplash.

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/chunkah69]

It was close to targeting.  He hit a defenseless QB in the face mask with the crown of his helmet.

If he hit him a little harder or a couple of inches higher he would have been ejected.

[u/Nyranth → u/Wide_right_yes]

Have his head up for one. Looking at the ground is always a problem.

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/Wide_right_yes]

Not hit the QB in the facemask with his helmet, maybe?

[u/KinkySeppuku → u/ReasonableCup604]

Very little contact to the facemask; clearly was going for the chest and made primary contact there.

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/KinkySeppuku]

That's why it was a standard RTP instead of targeting.

[u/KinkySeppuku → u/ReasonableCup604]

You’re the one mentioning the hit to the facemask in the first place lol

[u/ReasonableCup604 → u/KinkySeppuku]

Another way to say "very little contact to the facemask" is "contact to the facemask".

Maybe  Jack Lambert was right and quarterbacks should wear dresses.  But, whether we like it or not, they get extreme protection from the rules these days.

[u/SimilarAd3309 → u/KinkySeppuku]

He was trying to turn away and stop his momentum

[u/trumpet575 → u/KinkySeppuku]

Oh, well as long he wasn't trying to commit a penalty then I guess they should just pick up the flag. Yeah, that's how this works.

[u/KinkySeppuku → u/trumpet575]

If the contact is minor or incidental, that’s justification to not call it. I’m not saying he didn’t mean to commit a penalty; I’m saying he didn’t commit the penalty.

[u/trumpet575 → u/KinkySeppuku]

I don't see anything about "minor or incidental" in the rules. In fact, it specifically calls out forceable contact to the head or neck area that does not meet targeting requirements, removing anything about intent (and therefore minor/incidental).

Roughing the Passer

ARTICLE 9.

a. No defensive player shall unnecessarily rough a passer, when it is obvious the ball has been thrown. The following actions are illegal, but not limited to:

1. Forcible contact to the head or neck area that does not meet the requirements of Rule 9-1-4 (also reference Rule 9-1-2). FR-102 RULE 9 / Conduct of Players and Others

[u/UsualActuary → u/trumpet575]

Lol maybe read the rule book before you get snarky. Contact with the facemask/helmet is not an automatic flag. 

[u/trumpet575 → u/UsualActuary]

Yes, we should also ignore any other key things that could have happened, like lowering the head and launching. Those aren't important. Just pick up the flag! LET THEM PLAY!!!

[u/UsualActuary → u/trumpet575]

You're a silly guy, I love it 😂😂😂

[u/trumpet575 → u/UsualActuary]

Sarcasm is really the only way to deal with overconfident stupidity

[u/Timely_Nobody1310 → u/ReasonableCup604]

I remember Barham head butting a ref with his helmet. No flag bc the ref didn’t have a helmet on.

[u/kay14jay → u/Wide_right_yes]

Lower the shoulder and bring the boom. Make em pay. Hell they downgraded from targeting.

[u/Zither74]

Should've been intentional grounding

[u/Zeuthis → u/Zither74]

Exact same situation they called grounding on like 7 plays earlier, too.

[u/heliosflama1234 → u/Zither74]

Never mind the play where he threw out of a sack earlier in the game to absolutely nobody, and it didn’t even come close to scrimmage line.

[u/nbrown7384]

Bullshit calls

[u/InThePipe5x5_]

Even the refs couldnt help Indiana win their only game against a team with a pulse all season.

[u/jrh038 → u/InThePipe5x5_]

I would love an explanation as to why it wasn't at least offsetting with grounding against Indiana.

[u/Poverty_Shoes → u/InThePipe5x5_]

Nebraska and Northwestern don’t have a pulse? And USC?

[u/srector1224 → u/Poverty_Shoes]

Hey, thanks man!

[u/h11233 → u/Poverty_Shoes]

I'd like to see Nebraska be relevant again, because I like traditional blue bloods and think CFB is better when schools like them are good. But they're gonna have to prove it to me.

What have northwestern and Nebraska actually done this season? Lose to Indiana and beat a bunch of scrubs? They've played like MAC schedules so far this season 

[u/InThePipe5x5_ → u/Poverty_Shoes]

No not really

[u/Lord_Corlys → u/Poverty_Shoes]

Shush you, only SEC teams are any good

[u/Minnesota_Hoosier → u/InThePipe5x5_]

Such a loser take. Nebraska and NW probably beat up on whichever bum ass team you root for

[u/InThePipe5x5_ → u/Minnesota_Hoosier]

My team is a fraud too. I am just not as sensitive as Indiana fans. LSU lost to the only two good teams they've played. Is what it is.

[u/pinniped90]

Soft ass call

[u/BocephusJr88]

Refs tried really hard. The blatant no call PI on JS4 where the safety is literally wrap up tackling him before the ball gets there. This bs nonsense. Good effort on their part.

[u/Zeuthis → u/BocephusJr88]

Also just ignored the hold on Indiana’s 4th down throw at the end. Egregious miss.

[u/NeverDieKris → u/Zeuthis]

One of the most obvious holding non-calls I’ve seen missed in awhile.

[u/PhotochadA2358]

I don’t agree with the call but you can’t get your helmet near the QB’s helmet when he’s defenseless like that. Just don’t do it.

[u/GuhdNahtBahd → u/PhotochadA2358]

I’d also cite the lowering of the head like a ram and taking 3 steps completely blind to the situation.

[u/Beneficial_Pickle322 → u/PhotochadA2358]

You mean while he is actively playing his position in tackle football and trying to throw the ball? I swear we need to just give them yellow jerseys and let them go two hand tap it flag

[u/TTTTTT-9 → u/PhotochadA2358]

Seriously, tons of people in this thread are just ignoring the helmet to helmet contact and pretending it was a fully body shot.

I still think it's tricky tacky, but his helmet makes contact with hoovers helmet only a microsecond after his body hits Hoover's.

[u/TheBourbonTurtle]

That's a soft RTP penalty. If he had driven him into the ground like happened to Sayin earlier, sure. But that was just 10 ply

[u/FishnGritsnPimpShit]

To his credit, he really tried to pull up. In the end he just couldn't resist though. We all struggle with impulse control from time to time when tempted. I had a similar battle with a bunch of leftover peach cobbler last night.

[u/ReginaldLeDont → u/FishnGritsnPimpShit]

You’ve put this in terms I can absolutely understand.

[u/FishnGritsnPimpShit → u/ReginaldLeDont]

I just found the internal struggle relatable. He's coming in thinking he's going to obliterate the QB (cobbler), sees the ball out (sees it's 1am), and mostly pulls up (I was almost out of the kitchen). Then at the very end, the intrusive thought wins and he launches a bit (bye bye cobbler). It happens. We'll both do better next time around.

[u/silverhk → u/FishnGritsnPimpShit]

Way too relatable.

[u/the_D1CKENS → u/FishnGritsnPimpShit]

I bet that cobbler is gonna test your belts tensile strength tomorrow

[u/Jonjon428]

Ehhhhhhh not great bob

[u/liteshadow4]

Have your head recoil a little on any hit as a QB and you can probably draw RTP.

[u/Alternative_Look166]

Ball don’t lie ig

[u/Samwise777]

Probably shouldn’t have tucked and launched, but I think its a soft call. 

[u/BoilerUp4]

If QBs are about to get sacked, they should always throw it deep to no one. If the call it intentional grounding then it's the exact same as a sack. But because you're throwing it, the sack might get you a RTP...

[u/Interesting_Might467]

What a horseshit call, it's almost like you can see Matthew's processing "whatever you do hit him the right way so you don't get called for RTP". then the ref's called him for RTP

[u/ChapterThr33]

Atrocious call.

[u/Quick-Difference3267]

What a load of BS. Screw IU

[u/bjorn_with_an_axe]

Ball don't lie.

[u/Spider_Dawg]

I don’t have a dog in the fight but the defenders helmet hits the QB’s facemask while he’s launching himself head first. Im not saying I like the rule or anything but this doesn’t seem like that controversial of a call. Maybe I’m not seeing it correctly?

[u/pro_nosepicker → u/Spider_Dawg]

That’s not launching and he eased up at the last second if anything. The helmet bit is ridiculous , absolutely minuscule and happens 7-8x on every play.

[u/SimilarAd3309 → u/Spider_Dawg]

No it didn't

[u/Spider_Dawg → u/SimilarAd3309]

Yes, it does, they showed the replay over and over and the top of his helmet absolutely contacts the bottom of the QBs facemask.

[u/WarbleDarble → u/Spider_Dawg]

The shoulder to shoulder is pretty clearly the impact point.

[u/FivePoints35 → u/Spider_Dawg]

He certainly did not launch. And I’m a Michigan fan.

[u/Coltshokiefan → u/Spider_Dawg]

It’s textbook RTP and honestly could’ve been called targeting. OSU just has the biggest fanbase on this sub so they’re upvoting anybody calling it soft and downvoting reasonable people.

[u/Marvin-face → u/Coltshokiefan]

I liked the explanation that the defender appeared to be trying to turn his head away. Definitely still roughing, though, because it was to the neck area.

[u/Butternades → u/Marvin-face]

Agreed on that point, I might need to rewatch the players positioning, but I think it should’ve been grounding

[u/Marvin-face → u/Butternades]

It was definitely grounding.

[u/PiningForAnApple]

I mean he def should've seen the ball get thrown but these calls are lame asf anyway. Let the QB get hit. 

[u/CrOS2012]

The RTP was called because the QB was "hit" in the neck/head... and, no, the QB wasn't over-re-acting at all, nuh-uh, not at all. (The foul was called and the replay didn't clearly show that it wasn't, so the call stood. The replay showed no targeting, so it was dropped.)

[u/Specialist-Rush-2217 → u/CrOS2012]

RTP can't be overturned on replay

[u/TurnUptheDiscord]

Bullshit ass ref bailout

[u/AmbitiousEmphasis64]

I'm not sure what the controversy is, he launched at Hoover's face

[u/zorionek0]

Helmet to helmet and left his feet?

[u/Proud_Ad_4829 → u/zorionek0]

Are you blind?

[u/trumpet575 → u/Proud_Ad_4829]

Are you? You can clearly see the helmet hit the QB's facemask. A glancing blow, but if you lower your head and launch in a way that your helmet hits the facemask, you're going to get called for it.

[u/Proud_Ad_4829 → u/trumpet575]

You must know the rules better than the crew chief and replay officials then, maybe you should fill out a job application

[u/trumpet575 → u/Proud_Ad_4829]

No, but I can Google the rules. It's really easy to see how this was the correct call according to them.

Roughing the Passer

ARTICLE 9.

a. No defensive player shall unnecessarily rough a passer, when it is obvious the ball has been thrown. The following actions are illegal, but not limited to:

1. Forcible contact to the head or neck area that does not meet the requirements of Rule 9-1-4 (also reference Rule 9-1-2). FR-102 RULE 9 / Conduct of Players and Others

[u/ChudGodKing → u/zorionek0]

Is the helmet to helmet in the room with us

[u/trumpet575 → u/ChudGodKing]

Yes, assuming you're watching the video on this post. It's a glancing blow, but the helmet undeniably hits the facemask.

[u/Samwise777 → u/zorionek0]

Yeah I see it.  Its soft, but I do see it. 

[u/RevengeOfTheMothman]

Why did he launch himself like that? That’s why there’s a flag. Just go in for a regular tackle and not do whatever that was and it wouldn’t be a penalty 

[u/rune_undies → u/RevengeOfTheMothman]

If he tackles the QB it's probably roughing the passer too. Weak RTP call and the ref was probably throwing it no matter what.

[u/cbunny21 → u/rune_undies]

If he sticks his shoulder in the quarterbacks stomach and wraps up the way we were all taught to tackle, it would not have been a penalty

[u/rune_undies → u/cbunny21]

If he lands on top of the QB it would be though. That's about as clean a hit as you can give a QB anymore and he got flagged for it so I don't really know what you do at that point.

[u/YourSchoolCounselor → u/cbunny21]

Did you watch Washington @ Purdue last night? If you tackle the QB, they get you for "putting your weight on them".

[u/RevengeOfTheMothman → u/rune_undies]

But he attempts to leave his feet before thinking better of it. It’s just a baffling thing to do instead of just tackling him. It’s soft but the decision making there is bizarre. 

[u/Visible_Contractss]

Both of these teams suck lol

[u/MarkWithAnM7]

This flag brought to you by draft kings. Gotta keep things close so we can maximize the live bets.

[u/the_Pale_Hose]

People are blowing this play out of proportion without knowing the call. It was roughing the passer with targeting. Ref saw helmet to helmet contact. They reviewed and saw the helmet to helmet was incidental the removed the targeting. The roughing call stayed however because that is not reviewable. It is still a roughing the passing call with contact to the head and neck of the QB. Soft but that's how it is now.

[u/ThrowingNarwhal87139]

These comments are as expected. Last time this lot touched football pads was when their age was single digits.

Turn the sport into flag football and expand to 64 already.

EDIT: Downvoted, as expected, by the people whose parents didn’t allow them to play pop warner

[u/Dr_Hoffenheimer]

As an IU fan, I think the flag was bs

[u/MrP1anet]

Glad Michael corrected these fools. These guys are yapping way too much

[u/Ok-Soil-5133 → u/MrP1anet]

Pereira almost always defends the refs. That means nothing