This is an aspect of the game that can’t be spotty at all. No matter how much you come prepared with a stacked offense from Buckeyes’ freshman wonder Jeremiah Smith to Horns game-changer, Quinn Ewers, one awful call and the playbook goes down the drain. Things can get scary any second. Just look at what happened in the Orange Bowl, which was a wild, back-and-forth affair. When the pass interference was called on Notre Dame’s Adon Suler, it had so many of the Notre Dame fans pissed. The contact was minimal, and the Penn State receiver never had a chance at catching the pass because it never reached him. Yet it was an INT, Ohio State Buckeyes fear similar things could happen with Ryan Day tomorrow.

According to Buckeye Nation, their Cotton Bowl affair might be waged on an entirely different front: the officiating crew. For many Ohio State fans, the assignment of an ACC crew led by Jerry Magallanes feels like an ominous subplot to this marquee matchup, and history hasn’t exactly helped ease their nerves.

Sigh
byu/iverdow1 inOhioStateFootball

Magallanes and his crew are no strangers to controversy. Their track record includes some of the most hotly debated calls in recent memory, and it’s not hard to see why Buckeyes fans are already on edge. The infamous “8-lateral” Miami-Duke ending in 2015 is etched into the annals of officiating mishaps. What appeared to be a Miami player down with the ball wasn’t overturned, leading to a last-second Hurricanes touchdown. The fallout? A suspension for Jerry Magallanes and his crew.

Fast forward to 2021, and the Tennessee Vols suffered their own moment of frustration. Magallanes was at the center of yet another contentious call during a late-game scenario, adding another layer of skepticism to his name. This year, in Miami’s victory over Virginia Tech, the officiating crew, again featuring Magallanes, faced scrutiny after a controversial review of a Hail Mary attempt by the Hokies that was ruled incomplete after a lengthy video review.

So, when news broke that Magallanes would lead the officiating for Ohio State’s death clash with the Longhorns, the people of Columbus couldn’t help but connect the dots. It’s not paranoia when the evidence stacks up. Ohio State fans’ anxiety heading into the Cotton Bowl isn’t baseless. The last thing the Buckeyes need is a whistle-happy ref or a crew hesitant to make the right call.

Saving Private Ryan day

On Reddit, Ohio State fans didn’t hold back when the officiating crew news broke. The post by an r/OhioStateFootball named page lit up with comments, and the mix of humor, frustration, and resignation painted a clear picture of their collective mindset.

One OSU pal sarcastically remarked, “Good news for Texas fans as they’ll be able to hold on every offensive snap and get away with it now.” It’s a tongue-in-cheek jab, but it underscores the perception that calls—or lack thereof—could favor the Longhorns. Another chimed to reply with an affirmative nod, “I’m still waiting for that elusive offensive holding call against an opponent. Any year now…” The comment highlights a broader frustration that many fans feel about officiating inconsistencies, especially in big games.

A third fan took a more defiant stance: “Ohio against the world, baby!!! Let’s goooo.” It’s a rallying cry that captures the Buckeye spirit, turning the potential adversity into fuel for their team. Even with questionable officiating looming, there’s a resolve to fight through it.

Then there was a pragmatic one in the bunch, who posed the question, “Statistically, would that be more likely if they were Big Ten officials?” It’s a fair question that reflects the delicate balance of assigning officiating crews in inter-conference matchups. But when your team’s fate hinges on a crew with a reputation like Magallanes’, skepticism is warranted.

As kickoff approaches, the spotlight isn’t just on the players or coaches but also on the officiating crew. Whether the Buckeyes prevail, or the Longhorns leave Dallas victorious, one thing is certain: the officiating will be scrutinized with a magnifying glass. And Buckeye Nation can only hope that when the dust settles, the headlines are about touchdowns and tackles—not flags and flubs.