Nebraska wide receiver Brandon Reilly catches the game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds left during the Husker's 39-38 win against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium, in Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 7, 2015. (Courtesy The Daily Nebraskan)
Nebraska shocked MSU 39-38 Saturday night in Lincoln, Nebraska, ending the Spartans' undefeated season.
However, the Cornhuskers' game-winning touchdown probably should have been called back, as junior wide receiver Brandon Reilly appeared to have stepped out of bounds on his own free will.
A controversial call in Nebraksa's favor helped them upset undefeated Sparty: https://t.co/J6ZkxDxshe https://t.co/CSTV9Q0HtV
— Lost Lettermen (@LostLettermen) November 8, 2015
Former Vice President of Officiating in the National Football League and current Rules Analyst at FOX Sports Mike Pereira offered his opinion on the controversial touchdown through a series of tweets.
Thoughts on MSU/NEB..I did not think that the defender forced the receiver out of bounds. There was some contact but not enough.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
Since there was some contact, replay can only get involved to see if the receiver went out of bounds.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
Replay can't judge on the force of the contact. All they could do at that point was to check the receiver being out of bounds.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
Replay can also confirm that the the receiver had reestablished by coming back in bounds which he clearly did.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
The Spartans' undefeated season is over, but the Big Ten Championship is still within reach — MSU has to run the table. If the Spartans can win out, a playoff berth would still be a real possibility.
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