Controversial call leads to Virginia touchdown against Notre Dame

Notre Dame nearly had its first shutout in two years.

Let the debate continue as to whether or not the No. 8 Irish should have had one anyway Saturday in their dominant win against visiting Virginia.

Malachi Fields was credited with a 38-yard reception on a toss from Tony Muskett late in the second half inside Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame defender Christian Gray was in solid position and clearly stripped loose the ball well before Fields tumbled to the turf.

The official stat broadcast play-by-play ruled the play a fumble that Fields recovered, but Virginia hustled to the line to snap its next play before Irish coach Marcus Freeman could challenge the call and/or ask for a review. 

This photo courtesy Tom Zwiller shows the ball out and on the turf well before the play was blown dead and mid-stride for Fields:

There were multiple other moments in the game that both teams questioned from the ACC officiating crew, with Notre Dame having a dazzling fake-punt trick-play touchdown called back due to what officials ruled was an illegal formation.

In his postgame press conference, Freeman said the Irish staff believed Jack Kiser was in a shotgun-formation behind the line of scrimmage and in front of punter James Rendell.

Jordan Faison took a handoff from Kiser and raced 78 yards to the end zone, setting off a wild celebration and a two- to three-minute delay before Notre Dame was forced to play the down over and punted away possession.