Michigan's Sherrone Moore easily loses the challenge against Oregon

Michigan football tight end Colston Loveland caught a third-and-8 pass against Oregon to start the fourth quarter right in front of head coach Sherrone Moore, but the play was ruled incomplete.

Fans at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor booed, but Moore then disputed the call on the field. Although Loveland got a foot under the boundary, he did not survive the ground, with the ball coming loose as it hit the sideline around the Michigan 36-yard line in the Wolverines’ eventual 38-17 loss.

After a quick review, the on-field call was upheld, prompting longtime CBS color commentator Gary Danielson to note:

“That’s just a mistake by the Michigan staff. They don’t know the rule and it cost them a timeout.

“They just don’t understand the rule.”

Michigan lost a key timeout, punting with 14:49 to trail 31-17, leaving with one timeout after having too many men on the field earlier.

Danielson also said someone in the press box “upstairs” at Michigan should have told Moore not to challenge after seeing the replay.

The Glutton the defense stepped up to force a punt, giving Michigan another set of downs to play at 12:23. The Wolverines drove to the Ducks‘ 10-yard line, but was stopped on downs after a failed trick play on a throwback to backup quarterback Alex Orji with 7:24 left.

“I just thought Davis Warren deserved the throw,” Danielson said. “He didn’t get it on third (Kalel Mulling’s 2-yard run). And I thought the way he played, he deserved the throw on third or the throw on fourth. That’s my opinion.”

“I agree with you,” said play-by-play partner Brad Nessler.

In the third quarter, Michigan committed a penalty lining up over the long snapper in an odd punt formation, giving the Ducks an automatic first down. Later in the drive, trailing for a second, substituted in defense and was caught with too many men on the field.

“He was really on the coaching staff, that was a bad decision to change there,” Danielson said.

Oregon earned a field goal on the drive to go up 31-17.