An impressive catch Saturday during the Maryland-Indiana game led to hilarious confusion and debate on the broadcast about whether or not a player’s butt being in bounds counts as a catch.
During a Terrapins third-quarter touchdown drive, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw a deep ball to receiver Shaleak Knotts on third-and-17 from the Maryland 46-yard line. Knotts leaped into the air and pulled the ball down, landing on his rear end at the sideline.
Is it a 27-yard completion or an incomplete pass? Initially, the broadcast called it an incomplete pass before pulling back: “And they’re gonna say, ‘No, they’re going to say catch on the sideline!'”
"Does one cheek count as a catch?" 🏈🎙️🍑pic.twitter.com/wYZzof2aBo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 28, 2024
Officials convened on the sidelines before calling it a completion, and Big Ten Network broadcaster Jeff Levering couldn’t believe it, while talking to former Michigan player Jake Butt:
“Wow! They’re gonna say it’s a catch! What a play! Shaleak Knotts coming down with this play. Does one cheek count as a catch?”
Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira also weighed in on the ridiculous discussion:
“If half the butt is in, half the butt is out, that’s a catch” – Mike Pereira
Tell me you got that @nocontextcfb
— Pitchfork Sports (@pitchforksport) September 28, 2024
It was, indeed, a catch that led to some ridiculous quips on the broadcast.
