I’ve crafted this little vignette to illustrate the situation with the current US presidential election:
As a result of COVID-20 (God forbid), the Big Ten 2021 football season is only one playoff game. In this case, it’s Ohio State vs Michigan at Ohio Stadium. All the college football ranking polls have Michigan as the number one ranked team in the nation, and all of the commentators share their opinions that the Buckeyes don’t have a chance to win.
As the game starts in Columbus with only 10,000 fans allowed in the stands, Ohio State comes out strong and immediately takes a 14-0 lead. The TV commentators are dismayed but start to believe that it looks like it’s going to be another blow-out of the team from up north. As the game progresses, the hometown fans are incredulous as the 150 yards of penalty-calls stack up against the Buckeyes. This enables Michigan to get back into the game with the score 14 to 10 in favor of OSU.
With less than a minute to go in the game, Michigan has the ball at the Ohio State 20 yard line. The Michigan quarterback throws a prayer ball into the end zone, and their wide receiver makes a diving attempt to catch the ball. It’s evident to most all of the fans in the stadium that the ball bounced on the ground and into the receiver’s arms. However, the officials on the field call it a complete pass, and a likely win for Michigan.
The Michigan coach as well as Brent Musberger and all of the Fox TV commentators, vociferously announce that it was clearly a completion, and it’s not necessary to review the play. The Ohio State coach asks for a video review. The referee tells the Ohio State coach that to overturn the call on the field, there needs to be incontrovertible evidence that the ball hit the ground. Michigan is lining up as quickly as possible to snap the ball before anyone can review the play. The commentators claim that it’s not worth the time to review the play, and Ohio State just has to accept the call.