Remember in the early stages of the fourth quarter when Michigan was driving on Northwestern, trying to take the lead?

The Wolverines were down 17-13 and QB Shea Patterson faked a hand-off to RB Karan Higdon. Patterson kept the ball and ran about 25 yards before getting touched. It looked like Michigan was starting to put a drive together to take the lead.

However, Patterson’s run got called back. The referee threw a flag for holding on Higdon.

Higdon didn’t do anything on the play except get tackled.

Here’s the play:

Harbaugh, in his post-game press conference — following Michigan’s 20-17 victory — was asked about what appeared to be an incorrect call:

Harbaugh essentially ran through what happened and then was told by the referee indeed meant to call holding on Higdon. Well, OK then.

Harbaugh concluded his message on the question by calling the call a “phantom call.” He knows what he saw.

And he’s not buying it.