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Veteran NFL official, rules expert says game-changing pass interference call against Wisconsin was wrong

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

A questionable offensive pass interference call in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s Rose Bowl Game between Wisconsin and Oregon ended up being a game-changing penalty. And at least one rules expert believes the wrong call was made on the Badgers.

On a 3rd-and-6 with 2:53 remaining in the game and Oregon leading Wisconsin 28-27, Jack Coan completed a first down pass to keep the drive alive. But an offensive pass interference call on Danny Davis III was flagged, putting the Badgers in a 3rd-and-20 situation deep in their own territory.

Wisconsin was then forced to punt and couldn’t stop the Oregon offense. The Ducks picked up two first downs to seal the Rose Bowl victory.

The pass interference was questionable, and NFL officiating veteran and rules expert Terry McAulay tweeted out that the wrong call was made.

“That is not OPI against Wisconsin,” McAulay tweeted. “The receiver is trying to get into his route and the defender grabs him and prevents him from releasing.”

https://twitter.com/snfrules/status/1212548292783091712?s=21

Here is the play that was flagged for offensive pass interference:

It was one of the more controversial calls of the postseason, and it may have cost Wisconsin a victory.

Wisconsin finished the season with a 10-4 record after the loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB