Toledo defeated Central Michigan fair and square during the college football game in Kalamazoo on Saturday. However, the touchdown that shifted the momentum in favor of the Rockets sparked a debate about referee interference and whether the rules of the sport should change.
At what point should the play be ruled dead?
There is no way to determine whether an official had a direct impact on a college football (or NFL or high school) game. Perhaps there is a way to prevent this kind of issue in the future.
Toledo defeated Central Michigan.
I am not going to sit here and say the Rockets didn’t win the game outright. They out-gained the Chippewas on offense and shut them down on defense when it mattered most with twice as many stops on fourth down.
Toledo averaged nearly two more yards per play than Central Michigan, ran for 120+ more yards, had three more first downs and two more sacks. It was an ugly game in the snow that ultimately came down to the last 15 minutes and 26 seconds.
The Chippewas scored the first points of the contest, a field goal, right before halftime. Neither team scored during the first 14 minutes of the third quarter. The score held strong at 3-0.
And then the Rockets got going. They scored 21 unanswered points in the closing moments of the third quarter into the fourth quarter to win the game 21-3. They earned the win. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Should college football create a new rule for referee interference?
The momentum of the game swung in favor of Toledo on an extremely chaotic touchdown with 26 seconds left in the third quarter. Running back Chip Trayanum caught a screen pass over the middle for a short gain with two blockers out in front but they both missed their blocks.
As a result, three Central Michigan defenders converged on the ball-carrier to make the tackle.
There was only one problem. An official got caught up in the play, which effectively prevented the Chippewas from making the tackle and allowed Trayanum to escape. He ran for a touchdown.
Toledo won. They earned it. I’m taking nothing away from them.
— Adam Jaksa (@AdamJaksa) November 29, 2025
However, I really hope this play sparks convo with the NCAA for next year about a rule change if the ref is involved.
Should be ruled dead where ref interferes or something.
This changed the whole game. pic.twitter.com/np4VleKiH8
It was a completely legal touchdown. It is not up for debate. Toledo scored a touchdown. Period.
With that being said, the referee’s involvement with the play proved to be the difference between a fairly easy group tackle around the 50-yard-line and six points that completely changed the entire game. Should that be possible? What if the play was ruled dead when the official touches the ball-carrier?
The post Chaotic Toledo Touchdown Creates Rules Debate When Referee Interference Causes Pandemonium appeared first on BroBible.
Chaotic Toledo Touchdown Creates Rules Debate When Referee Interference Causes Pandemonium
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