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Big Ten referees reveal why controversial Jeremiah Smith touchdown stood after review

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz11/29/25NickSchultz_7

In the second quarter of Saturday’s game between Michigan and Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith scored the Buckeyes’ first touchdown. But the officials went to the monitor to review if he had possession as he crossed the plane, ultimately upholding the call.

However, FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira didn’t seem convinced Smith had possession when his foot went out of bounds. If the officials ruled that the case, it would have been a fumble out of the end zone and a touchback.

Speaking with a pool reporter after The Game, Big Ten referee Kole Knueppel said the crew did not have a camera angle that showed clear and convincing evidence to overturn the call. As a result, the touchdown stood.

“We did not have a camera angle to determine when the ball was loose as opposed to when it cross the goal line,” Knueppel said. “So by rule, if we don’t have an angle to confirm by obvious video evidence that the ball was loose before he crossed the goal line, then the play is going to be upheld.”

The touchdown catch was one of Smith’s three receptions in Saturday’s victory – Ohio State’s first over Michigan since 2019. He had 40 yards on the day as a top target for quarterback Julian Sayin, who showed out with three touchdowns in the effort.

It wasn’t necessarily easy for Ohio State to start Saturday’s game. Michigan started things off with a field goal and Sayin threw an interception, which set up another Wolverines attempt to go up 6-0. The Buckeyes added one of their own to make it a 6-3 game after one quarter.

Then, Ohio State broke out. Jeremiah Smith hauled in the 35-yard touchdown to go up 10-6, and after another Michigan field goal, Brandon Inniss found the end zone just before halftime to extend the lead to 17-6.

The Buckeyes never looked back. Carnell Tate got in on the action with a 50-yard touchdown reception from Sayin to make it a 24-9 ballgame, and a Jayden Fielding field goal capped off a 20-play, 81-yard drive that churned 11:56 of game clock. That felt like the dagger for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes eventually drained enough clock in the fourth quarter to seal it.

Now, the Buckeyes will head to Indianapolis next week for compete for the Big Ten title. They will go up against an Indiana team that also dominated through the regular season, including a Black Friday victory over Purdue to secure its spot in the championship game.