Could it be that ND wins despite that? That it is an unnecessary impediment to victory?
When was the last time you saw 3 pass interference penalties called on one team in a quarter of football? ND got 3 PI penalties on the SAME drive in the Clemson game.
Speaking of the Clemson game, the hit on Drew Pyne was, in my humble opinion, both late and helmet to helmet. Neither was called, despite the review. Do you ever ask yourself if ND did that would it be called on us?
We have a very good defensive line, what are the odds a team like Syracuse held often while blocking our DL, any it was hardly ever called?
ND scored on the first offensive play of the Syracuse game, the very next drive 2 15 yard penalties were called.
Just last game against BC, there was a Drew Pyne run that appeared on the Jumbotron to make the first down by yards, not inches, on third down, no review, no fix. Next play ND had a false start.
Also, against BC, #8 Marist Liufau had a backwards lateral recovery and returned it for a TD. First the refs called it an incomplete pass. Then they gave ND the ball at the 42, when that fumble happened it was a live ball. ND should have had a TD, no?
Against Navy, first drive of the second half for Navy 4th & 1, Navy attempts a pass it’s incomplete, a PI magically appears. That’s like a turnover and truly a game changing moment. No flag, ND is first & 10 at the Navy 29 yard line.
I could go on, but I believe one of the pay sites had an article earlier in the season that ND’s opponents were some of the least penalized in college football, by which, I believe they were pointing out when teams played ND they weren’t getting flags thrown on them. (That’s from memory I could be mistaken)
Just my 2 cents, as always I could be wrong. And my opinion, is based on what I saw at the game from my vantage point or from my seat on the sofa.
That said, I’d like for ND to use truly neutral officials like from the Ivy League or the MAC or the best from FCS level.