Wisconsin has 3 TDs overturned by replay in loss to Northwestern

Wisconsin lost 13-7 to Northwestern at home on Saturday afternoon and did so in heartbreaking fashion.

The Badgers had three – yes, three – touchdowns overturned by instant replay in the second half, including two in the final minute of regulation.

After taking over down 13-7 with 1:47 to go, the Wisconsin offense worked its way deep into Wildcats territory. And on a first down play from the 23, Joel Stave hit tight end Troy Fumagalli for what was originally ruled a touchdown.

The play was looked at, and replay showed Fumagalli’s knee hit the turf before he scored, so the touchdown was correctly overturned.

The controversy arose on the next snap. Stave rolled right on a play-action pass and found Jazz Peavy in the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown. However, the score was again overturned after it was determined that Peavy did not maintain possession and complete the process of the catch.

It certainly looked like a catch at first glance, but if you look closely, you can see that the ball was jostled loose when Peavy hit the turf.

It was a tough break, but the Badgers still had three more attempts to score from the one-yard line.

It didn’t work.

Stave was sacked on second down. The Badgers were out of timeouts, so they had to spike the ball on third down to stop the clock. Wisconsin’s final chance fell incomplete on fourth down, and Northwestern held on to a victory.

All of this happened after another controversial third quarter ruling.

It appeared that Wisconsin wideout Alex Erickson returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown, but the touchdown was negated after officials ruled Erickson made an invalid fair catch signal.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but technically the call is correct. As pointed out by SB Nation’s Rodger Sherman, any waving by a player that is not “by extending one hand only clearly above his head” is illegal once the player gains possession of the ball.

And after all of these tough breaks, Wisconsin fans were fed up and pelted referees with snowballs as they exited the field.

	Sconnie Sports Talk @SconSportsTalk
Refs mobbed after Wisconsin-Northwestern by snowballs. pic.twitter.com/eaqsjBuRnE 3:42 PM - 21 Nov 2015

That's not a great look, you can completely understand the frustration.