Tim Tebow calls out referees after holding call wipes out Washington big play
In the fourth quarter of Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship, it looked like Michael Penix Jr. had finally connected with Rome Odunze for an explosive play. It would’ve given Washington a first down against Michigan and, more importantly, momentum.
Instead, a holding call wiped it out, and Tim Tebow was among the voices to call out the officiating on social media.
Multiple times throughout the game, it looked like the referees could’ve called holding, but didn’t. The timing of the decision to throw a flag on such a big play generated some conversation, and Tebow chimed in, as well.
“Really tough holding call after some of the ones they missed for Michigan,” Tebow said.
Washington ended up punting to end the drive, and Michigan turned around and scored a touchdown to go up 27-13. Blake Corum found the end zone for the 26th time this year, extending his program record for a single season with his 12-yard score.
Michigan set the tone with a picture-perfect opening drive. The Wolverines took eight plays to go 84 yards, capped by a 41-yard touchdown from Donovan Edwards to put his team ahead 7-0. That gave the ball to Washington, which settled for a field goal to make it a 7-3 ballgame.
Then, it was Edwards again as went 48 yards on the next possession to the end zone, extending Michigan’s lead to 14-3. After Washington punted, Corum’s 59-yard rush helped set up a 31-yard field goal from James Turner to go up 17-3 with 13:28 to play in the second quarter.
The Huskies looked like they had an opportunity to get back in the game with one swing, though, when Rome Odunze broke through the coverage on 4th and 7 in the second quarter. However, Michael Penix Jr. turned it over, resulting in a turnover on downs.
But the Wolverines came up empty, and after a turnover on downs of their own, Washington marched down the field to score its first touchdown of the game as Penix found Jalen McMillan. Just like that, it was a 17-10 ballgame heading into halftime.
The second half was pretty quiet, outside of a few field goals, before Corum finally found the end zone. That gave Michigan plenty of momentum, and the Wolverines had to hold strong on a 4th and 13 on the drive after the score. It turned into a long interception from converted wide receiver Mike Sainristil, and Michigan fans could sense what was coming after the final 4:29.