J.J. McCarthy’s Touchdown Dart Against Ohio State Sparks Debate After Questionable Review

The Wolverines quarterback’s sensational highlight quickly turned into a hotly debated topic on social media.

The latest chapter of the vaunted Michigan-Ohio State rivalry added a moment of controversy to its lore on Saturday following an unbelievable play by Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

With No. 3 Michigan (11–0) leading, 7–3, in the second quarter, McCarthy fired a 22-yard strike to receiver Roman Wilson between two OSU defenders on third-and-10 for a touchdown.

An official review followed McCarthy’s sensational TD pass as it appeared that the ball may have been picked off by Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke, who met Wilson head-on. The review ultimately resulted in an official ruling of a touchdown, sparking a debate online over whether McCarthy’s dart should’ve stood as a score or been reversed to a turnover.

9 ➡️ 1 pic.twitter.com/lG8GbgoLyM

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 25, 2023

As video of the debated play circulated online, the highlight quickly turned into a point of contention, with some fans flooding the “That’s a TD” trend on X, formerly known as Twitter, in defense of No. 2 Ohio State (11-0). And, given how heated the storied rivalry is, the debate will likely rage on long after the final whistle:

I actually don't think it was even close. The ball's moving because his arms are moving. That's a catch and TD. https://t.co/gDRTzIl7m4

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 25, 2023

Should this have been an interception for Denzel Burke?

pic.twitter.com/i0Js5rok0h

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 25, 2023

That’s a TD, but why didn’t 25 play the ball?

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) November 25, 2023

THATS A PIIICKKKK!!! https://t.co/RP4jmq9fd8

— Justin Hilliard (@JHilliard47) November 25, 2023

No. He caught the ball, took 2 steps, crossed the plane of the end zone. Anything that happened after doesn’t matter. https://t.co/9UxYf5LNk9

— Sidelines - Clemson (@SSN_Clemson) November 25, 2023

JJ McCarthy fit that touchdown pass in a window that was roughly the size of a cantaloupe.

— Scott Bell (@sbell021) November 25, 2023

Yes.

The receiver didn’t control the ball long enough to become a runner, and didn’t complete the process of the catch https://t.co/slCzKNkhf3

— Nick Manchester (@NickManchester9) November 25, 2023

If that hits the ground, it’s an incomplete pass. So why is it not an interception? https://t.co/rvoliQDW8c

— Luke Parrish (@LukeParrish_NFL) November 25, 2023

Impossible to overturn in my opinion https://t.co/MgBXDC6i9g

— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) November 25, 2023

This was CLOSE

I don’t envy the replay official on this one. https://t.co/ZnCDec82yr

— Ben Larimore (@larimore_ben) November 25, 2023

CONTROVERSY IN MICHIGAN 👀

Roman Wilson’s touchdown was confirmed by the refs but Ohio State fans felt it should have been ruled an interception…

Touchdown or interception? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gzmAFaxxXi

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 25, 2023