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Jim Harbaugh: Big Ten acknowledged mistake on overturn at MSU

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•11/08/21•

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Aidan Hutchinson had his fumble recovery for touchdown at MSU overturned. The Big Ten acknowledged the bad call. Getty Images

As first reported on The Fort, TheWolverine.com’s premium message board, last week, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh received a response from the Big Ten acknowledging its mistake on the key fumble/touchdown overturn in the second quarter of a critical conference game.

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End David Ojabo forced a fumble with a sack on Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne on which the ball clearly seemed to be coming out before he hit the ground. The replay officials instead “re-officiated the play” in Fox analyst Mike Periera’s words, overturned it and allowed the Spartans to punt.

Michigan got the ball back and drove for a field goal, but those seven points would prove critical in a 37-33 loss.

“Yeah, as we all expected, all saw, mistakes were made. Yeah, that was the response,” Harbaugh said. “They made a mistake on that call … and others.

“Can’t be any more clear than that.”

There were plenty of questionable calls in the game, a reporter noted, including a no-call pass interference on a fourth down play involving Cornelius Johnson. The sophomore receiver was hit well before the ball arrived, but rather than continue the drive, the Wolverines had to punt.

“Yeah, there were [a lot of those calls],” Harbaugh noted. “The film doesn’t lie you know?”

Michigan players said last Monday they didn’t expect to get the calls in the game, expressing their frustration. But they also had several other opportunities to win, which they knew, but left too many plays on the field .

They find themselves right back in the hunt for a Big Ten title, however, after Michigan State’s 40-29 loss at Purdue and their own 29-7 win over Indiana. A win at Penn State Saturday would put them a step closer to a potential showdown with Ohio State Nov. 27 with a Big Ten East Division title on the line.

Harbaugh knows it won’t be easy.

“There quarterback [Sean Clifford] is very good; a very good running back in Noah Cain,” he said. “Jahan Dotson, receivers, tight ends. Very good offensive line.

“Defensively, they have an outstanding secondary, really good linebackers, good up front. Just a good, solid, strong team all the way around.”

The Wolverines and Nittany Lions kick off Saturday at noon in Happy Valley, televised by ABC.  

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