The fallout from Michigan’s disputed last-second victory over Western Michigan in Week 1 of the college football season has taken a fresh turn.
The Wolverines avoided what would have been a stunning upset at The Big House in Ann Arbor when they connected on a 47-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final snap. The decisive play, however, came only after Western Michigan had already appeared to seal the win by knocking down a pass as time expired, before Big Ten officials unexpectedly put one second back on the clock.
The MAC (Mid-American Conference) has now filed an appeal with the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, asking for the result to be overturned and recorded as a 12-7 victory for Western Michigan.
The move follows the release of Big Ten footage showing officials conducting their review with a game clock that was not synchronized with the clock seen by television viewers and fans inside the stadium.
The ending sparked immediate backlash, with some fans alleging the decision was “rigged” to rescue one of college football’s wealthiest and most influential programs. The controversy has only intensified since the clock discrepancy came to light.
MAC commissioner Dr Jon Steinbrecher is now taking action to try and have the game considered a Michigan loss, a potentially seismic blow for the Wolverines’ playoff aspirations having already dropped out of the AP Top 25 even with a win.
Michigan is facing an appeal to get the game chalked up as a loss with the playoff committee
JJ Buchanan caught a 47-yard Hail Mary to win the game as time expired for a second time
The statement read: ‘After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock at the conclusion of the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game.
‘The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained. Instead, the Big Ten Conference replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system. As a result, one second was placed back on the game clock and an additional play was awarded.
‘This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock. It was an error in the application of the established replay protocol governing this specific end-of-game timing situation.
‘Had the protocol been properly followed and the program-feed clock been used, no additional play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12–7.
‘As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner of the game for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations, and take such other corrective action as may be within their authority.’
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Western Michigan added in their own statement via President Russ Kavalhuna: ‘Commissioner Steinbrecher and the MAC have taken important action today in college football. The support we have received from across the country for Coach Taylor and our Broncos, for their character and their sportsmanship, has been overwhelming, and we are grateful for it.
‘Some have read our actions as weak. However, supporting student-athletes and their growth during a time of adversity is strength. Being bitter doesn’t make you better and this should not be mistaken for weakness or agreement. We can show respect for the game while also asking serious questions; I’ve done both, and I’ll keep doing both.
‘Our job at Western Michigan is to play the game and help our students grow. It’s the job of the conferences and the NCAA to enforce the rules. Our Broncos will continue to take the field against any opponent.’
Western Michigan had already batted down a pass as time seemingly expired
Big Ten officials made the ruling using a game clock not synced with the one on TV
In the immediate aftermath of the game, Steinbrecher stated the conference had accepted the outcome. However, it has now performed a huge U-turn after more information has come to light.
‘I commend Western Michigan for the outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan,’ Steinbrecher said.
‘I also appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Big Ten office and its prompt response in reviewing the play and providing the requested clarification.’
Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira broke down the confusion over the game clocks and protocol on The Joel Klatt Show on Monday morning.
‘It’s the right call with what they were looking at, but it’s wrong… they didn’t follow the protocol, which, by the way, is not in the rule book,’ Pereira said. ‘It is not. There’s a lot of ways that you look at things called philosophy.
‘The official replay officials have been told that if there is a discrepancy, use the television footage. Do not use your footage in the command center. Use the footage that 10 million people are watching, not the one that’s three.
‘When it’s all said and done, that’s what should have happened, and there shouldn’t have been another play. They did not look at the television copy of what was being shown to all of us.
‘I think it’s a huge question, and the question is certainly in the minds of everybody with Western Michigan and Michigan itself is who won the game, who lost the game. But in the big picture, why? Why did this really happen? I think that’s what we have to look into.’