Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Yes.  I saw that story.  And watched and rewatched the film. 

Can’t really tell- there are some signs that Mitch Rossi was expecting the snap, and the punter seemed surprised to get the ball.  So- maybe it was a fake punt???

Either way- it is 4th and 5 ( after being 1st and 35 due to absolutely bone headed personal foul by Gee Scott), you are at uM’s 38 yard line, you are down 24-20, midway through 3rd Q, you have arguably the best QB in CFB as well as WR, Michigan would be on especially high alert for a fake, and if you do punt it- high risk of a touchback so net gain of 13 yards. 

The friends of mine who were there all said- with Stroud out there begging Day to go for it- they felt the air leave the stadium, and could visibly see the despair in the body language on the OSU bench. Remember- at that point in the game Stroud had completed 70% of his throws, no interceptions and no sacks. 

There was an easy risk/return decision there- and Day turtled.  And UM saw it- and players said as much afterward.  Michigan only had one long, sustained TD drive in the game- and it happened right after that decision. 

Possibly because the snapper snapped to the wrong guy

Yes.  I saw that story.  And watched and rewatched the film. 

Can’t really tell- there are some signs that Mitch Rossi was expecting the snap, and the punter seemed surprised to get the ball.  So- maybe it was a fake punt???

Either way- it is 4th and 5 ( after being 1st and 35 due to absolutely bone headed personal foul by Gee Scott), you are at uM’s 38 yard line, you are down 24-20, midway through 3rd Q, you have arguably the best QB in CFB as well as WR, Michigan would be on especially high alert for a fake, and if you do punt it- high risk of a touchback so net gain of 13 yards. 

THIS!

I read an article a long time ago about some HS or low-level college coach who basically never punts and I've seen some data to suggest that teams statistically should go for it a LOT more than they do.  That situation is the example that I always go with.  The difference between a punt/touchback and an incomplete pass is fairly negligible.  At least if you go for it you have a chance.  

I also agree with you @Honestbuckeye , that the fake punt call doesn't really make sense anyway.  It is too obvious.  Michigan is probably going to be in their "punt safe" formation watching for a fake so you are better off with your best passer and best WR's on the field instead of your punter throwing to whatever gunner you have on that side of the field.  

A fake punt is a much higher risk call but has much greater chance of success if you call it on your own 38.  Then the opposition probably isn't in "punt safe" and they will actually be surprised and there is a non-trivial chance that your punter can either just run the five yards untouched or throw to a WIDE open gunner for an easy conversion.  

My favorite is watching Mitch Rossie spin around like WTF is happening. The sadness when you see how much space there is.


https://twitter.com/RossRFulton/status/1597227040595644416?s=20&t=Z9OGIRBkSfM5UIIT9PW_kw

Interesting.  I noticed live that the punter looked like he barely caught the snap.  Rewatching this I'm nearly certain that it was a called fake for a number of reasons:

• At the snap the punter doesn't wait for the ball, he starts to his right then has to come back to his left to catch the ball (thankfully he did).  
• Rossie clearly doesn't know what is going on.  
• There is GREAT blocking for Rossie on the left side of the line.  He could have driven a truck through that hole.  
• One of the blockers on that left side, after setting his block, releases and heads downfield then looks back for the ball, I think he was supposed to be the outlet receiver for Rossie to throw to if he couldn't get the yardage running.  
• The punt is very nearly blocked because the guys on the far right of the Buckeye line didn't appear to even try to block the defenders.  Watching live I just thought they didn't do a good job of holding their blocks but watching the replay with the understanding that maybe it was supposed to be a fake, those guys don't appear to even try to block for the punter.  Instead, they set up to prevent the Michigan defenders from getting to the left side where Rossie is supposed to be running with the ball.  

Sure looks like a VERY well designed fake. Poorly executed when the snapper doesn’t know.  

That’s Egbuka on left end- he clearly fakes blocking then turns into a short route as a potential outlet pass.  The play looks like it could have easily gone for big yards just running. 

But- horrible execution, again.  😞

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/the-game-2022/2022/11/135500/jim-harbaugh-says-michigan-got-extremely-lucky-on-apparent-botched-fake-punt-by-ohio-state


Harbaugh says Michigan got lucky on that fake punt.  “They had us cold”. 

Not sure if that makes me feel better or worse.  Better- Day had some balls. Worse- snapper did not know the play call.  

I'd feel better

the player can learn or move on

Your probably right.   

based on the film, that play goes for a long gain, or maybe a TD.   Nobody there on defense but the returner, and the intended RB, Rossi, had a blocker (Egbuka)