PJ Fleck wasn’t going to ignore the question he knew was coming.

The Minnesota head coach was asked about the offside call on the Golden Gophers’ successful onside kick that prevented them from having a chance to upset No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon.

After Minnesota cut Michigan’s lead to 27-24 on a touchdown with 1:37 left, the Golden Gophers predictably tried an onside kick to try to get the ball back and have 1 last shot to pull the shocker at the Big House. Minnesota executed the onside kick to perfection, recovering the ball in Michigan’s territory.

Minnesota was going to get that last shot at a shocking victory. Until it wasn’t.

Minnesota was called for being offsides. But was it really offsides or was it a bad call that denied the Golden Gophers a final shot at victory?

“I didn’t hear anything, except he was offsides,” said Fleck. “I was 10 yards away. I was down where the ball was going to be received. I didn’t see it. … The call was made. I asked. (The official) said he broke the plane. Those were words that were spoken, that he broke the plane.”

Mike Pereria, the prominent rules analyst for FOX, which was broadcasting the game, thought Minnesota should’ve gotten that last possession.

“I don’t think he’s offside,” said Pereira. “I mean, if you take a look at the high shot like the all-22 (camera angle), I don’t think he’s breaking the plane. … There’s the ball kicked, is he offsides? I tell ya, it’s so technical, to me, he’s not.”

But the official said he was, so Michigan kept the ball and ran the clock out.