“Are you blind?” – Social media melt down after referees negated a brilliant touchdown connection between Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart

The referees wanted to make the Oregon-Michigan game extra spicy so they missed a couple of crucial touchdown calls on Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart's connection.

“Are you blind?” – Social media melt down after referees negated a brilliant touchdown connection between Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart

Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart (Image via IMAGO/screengrab X)

As if Oregon (8-0) and Michigan (5-3) required any more spotlight on Saturday, a botched refereeing decision in the first quarter poured fuel into the raging fires of the Big House. The Wolverines witnessed Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel being awarded a touchdown in confusing circumstances.

Around the seventh-minute mark in the first quarter, Gabriel was on his thirteenth play of the latest drive. Michigan’s defense read his plan to run the ball twice, but the Heisman candidate switched things up during his third try.

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Gabriel went to the left corner, looking for wide receiver Evan Stewart, who caught the ball mid-air while a Michigan defensive back put pressure on him. Stewart hit the deck, and the referee awarded Oregon a touchdown.

Football fans furious with the referee for awarding Oregon an unfair touchdown

Even though the referee called it a legitimate touchdown pass, the replays told a different story. While slowing down the footage, it was clear that Stewert lost possession of the ball and dropped it before hitting the ground.

"These refs are complete as*" Social media melt down after referees negated a brilliant touchdown connection between Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart
Dillon Gabriel (Image via SI)

Fans who saw the replay were unhappy with the officials for hastily making the wrong decision. By the time everyone saw the replays, Michigan had already played a couple of snaps.

Late first-half drama

The officials botched another call late in the second quarter. It was the combination of Gabriel and Stewart once again. Thirty seconds after the two-minute warning, Gabriel threw a deep pass looking for the young wideout inside the Michigan endzone.

Stewart pulled off a one-handed catch and thought he had scored his second touchdown of the game. However, the officials this time consulted before making the final call. It was ruled out as an incomplete pass as Stwart landed outside of the scoring zone.

The refs failed again as the replay clearly showed Stewart’s left foot touched the endzone turf before he went out of bounds.

Oregon beats Michigan

Despite the bad calls, Oregon rounded up a comfortable 38-17 win at Ann Arbor. Dillon Gabriel ended the game with 22/34 for 294 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 3 carries for 23 yards and a quarterback sneak.

Stewart caught 3 passes for one score, but it was his receiver buddy Traeshon Holden who balled out with 6 catches for 149 yards. Running back Jordan James rushed 23 times for 117 yards and one score. Oregon remains the No. 1 college football team in the nation and will play the Maryland Terrapins next while No. 24 Michigan can only hope for a Bowl game as they wait to play the Indiana Hoosiers.