Notre Dame pulled off a comeback win, but the pass interference call that negated their fourth-quarter interception (8:46 remaining, tied at 17) sparked plenty of controversy. It’s not just a contentious ruling—it raises an intriguing debate about how football rules are interpreted.

To have a meaningful discussion, though, we need to avoid the mistake McElroy made during the broadcast: focusing solely on whether the ND cornerback’s actions constituted interference in isolation.

What’s truly interesting about the play, as I argued during the live game thread, is the role of Notre Dame’s safety—the “second defender”—who ultimately made the interception. This player had the best position to make a play on the ball, arguably better than Warren’s. In that context, the safety effectively became a receiver. The key question is whether the ND cornerback’s actions impeded Warren’s ability to contest the ball against the safety. If not, then it wasn’t interference, especially since pass interference is a discretionary rule. Yes, the cornerback was face-guarding Warren, but Warren appeared to locate the ball and make his play unimpeded. Ultimately, Warren lost the “jump ball” to the safety.

So, let’s break it down:

• Did Warren have a fair opportunity to make a play on the ball? Watching the replay in slow motion, it’s clear the cornerback didn’t disrupt the trajectory of Warren’s jump. If the corner had been physically impeding Warren—pushing or mugging him, for instance—Warren’s jump would likely have been off-balance or misdirected. Instead, Warren jumped straight up, while the safety had a better angle and path to the ball.

• Does this distinction even matter? Should interference downstream from a play on a catchable ball always result in a penalty, regardless of the broader context? Consider this hypothetical: if a quarterback throws a low laser that’s intercepted by a linebacker at the 35-yard line, while the intended receiver is interfered with at the 45-yard line, should interference still be called? Is it fair to penalize a defensive play that doesn’t ultimately affect the outcome of the pass?