To the surprise of absolutely no one, the referees assigned to the national title game between Miami and Indiana have been accused of rigging the outcome.
During the first half of action, Miami defensive back Jakobe Thomas got away with what could've been targeting on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. It was a nasty hit that didn't sit well with Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti.
“There’s three personal fouls on the quarterback not called in one drive,” Cignetti told ESPN's Holly Rowe. “They need to be called because they’re obvious personal fouls. I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line you got to call it. And they were obvious, black and white calls.”
Unfortunately for Cignetti, the officiating somehow got worse in the second half.
For starters, the refs potentially missed a holding penalty during Mark Fletcher Jr.'s 57-yard rushing touchdown for the Hurricanes. An argument can also be made that Miami's secondary got away with pass interference in the fourth quarter.
© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Are the refs favoring Miami?
Judging by some comments being made online, fans are convinced the refs want Miami to win the national title.
"What are these refs looking at in this IU game. That’s 3 PI calls missed this game not including a holding on that big run play for Miami as well," one fan commented.
"The refs aren’t calling anything on the Miami DB’s. They have been all over the Indiana WR’s all game," a second fan said. "Now watch them throw a huge flag for def holding or dpi on Indiana later in the 4th."
"I got no skin in the game and I’m all for letting them play it out but Miami has been committing egregious and obvious penalties all night and the refs are not bothering to call any of them. Terrible officiating," another fan wrote.
It's unfortunate a game of this magnitude is being overshadowed by questionable officiating.
Do you think the referees called a one-sided game?