During the B1G championship game in the first quarter, Indiana tried to outsmart the defense with a quick screen, but OSU’s Lorenzo Styles blew it up like he had the play wired into his headset. Moments later, he made too much contact and didn’t allow Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker to go up and play the ball. That’s a clear restriction, right in front of the far official who threw the flag. Penalty or not, it had already proved costly for Ohio State.

“Ohio State is called for pass interference on this play,” reported FOX College Football.

At the end of the first quarter, the penalty was costly, as it moved Indiana to the Ohio State 22-yard line, which helped set up a field goal that cut the Buckeyes’ lead to 7-3.

With two minutes left in the first quarter, the Hoosiers struck first, but the ball ricocheted straight into the air. Here, Davison Igbinosun reacted instantly, snatching it with lightning reflexes and setting Ohio State up at Indiana’s 25-yard line. Indiana answered back. Later in the quarter, at 8:59 p.m. sharp, the Hoosiers jump-started the next series by drawing a pass interference flag on the Buckeyes.

After that, Kaelon Black blasted through the line for a 30-plus-yard sprint, pushing the Hoosiers to the edge of the red zone. While pass interference is typically called when a defender makes early contact before the ball arrives, this one on Ohio State didn’t sit well with fans. Probably that’s why B1G referee Ron Snodgrass could be staring down some serious heat.

At this point in the season, with the final CFP spots just around the corner and both Indiana and Ohio State undefeated, a costly early penalty in the B1G title game becomes a major concern, especially for a dedicated fanbase like OSU’s. While it gave Indiana a chance to score, the call triggered outrage among fans, who took to social media to express their frustration.

Fans are unleashing fury over the referee’s decision

While a costly penalty early in the game can affect players’ mindset, it also gives the opponent a scoring opportunity, something Ohio State is now feeling. But if it ends up contributing to a loss, a title defeat could impact the CFP ranking of an undefeated 12–0 team. That’s why one fan, who doesn’t want to take any chances, has already voiced an opinion, calling the pass interference call unfair.

“He didn’t affect the wr’s ability to catch the ball besides batting it away. Not a PI at all,” wrote the fan.

While it’s a sharp criticism of the B1G referee, the timing also matters for fans, given this significant B1G title game could seal their CFP spot, especially for a team already sitting at No. 1.

“We calling that now? Okay then, gonna be a lot of flags today,” wrote another fan.

Then one fan jumped to defend OSU, bluntly stating, “This is textbook great defense.”

Ohio State’s defense is firing on all cylinders, cementing its place as one of CFB’s elite units. Ten games into 2025, this squad shows no signs of slowing down, with plenty of gas left for a deep CFP run. And the reason is clearly visible. The Buckeyes are a masterclass in efficiency, ranked No. 2 in stop rate after Week 12. Besides, they’ve faced the fewest defensive snaps in the nation.

Despite that, some fans see this call as reasonable, which is why one fan stated, “Because that is what is was are you blind?”

Finally, one fan expressed their opinion on the call but left it ambiguous, neither clearly right nor wrong.

“Probably because the defender didn’t look back and had a hold of his jersey? Idk,” commented one fan.

Either way, Ohio State already faced a heartbreaking loss in the Big Ten title game.