The No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs defeated the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines 51-45 in a College Football Playoff semifinal game on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz., but not without controversy.

Two critical calls went against the Wolverines, potentially altering the outcome of the game.

Early in the second quarter, Michigan defensive back Rod Moore intercepted TCU quarterback Max Duggan at the Michigan 49 yard line with his team down 14-3. The very next play Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy fired a 49-yard bomb down the field to his wide receiver Roman Wilson. It was initially called a touchdown.

Nevertheless, after review Wilson was called down on the half-yard line. On the ensuing play, Michigan running back Kalel Mullings fumbled and the ball was recovered by TCU’s Bud Clark
in the end zone for a touchback.

TCU did not score off the turnover but Michigan lost what appeared to be seven points in their favor, stunting their momentum.

Fast forward to late in the fourth-quarter, the Wolverines were down by six points and needed to drive down the field to win the game. On fourth-down with 35 seconds left in the game, the snap was mishandled and led to multiple wild laterals with Michigan eventually being stopped short of the first down.

But the officials went to a targeting review which showed TCU cornerback Kee’Yon Stewart coming in to make a hard hit against Colston Loveland.

The NCAA rulebook’s rule 9, section 1, articles 3 and 4 define targeting as “taking aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.” It also specifies, “no player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of his helmet.”

Though it looks like Stewart lowered the helmet, it is up for interpretation whether or not the hit went “beyond” making a legal tackle. The referees decided no targeting.

Michigan fans may be upset about the targeting call not being called, but it would have been equally heartbreaking for TCU fans if it had gone the other way. Michigan was down to their last play and would have gotten a fresh set of downs to continue trying to march down the field. Hence, the ruling was bound to cause controversy either way.

Controversial aside, TCU advances to the College Football Championship game on Jan. 9 and will face the winner of Georgia versus Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.