NBC broadcaster John Fanta has weighed in on the disputed finish between Michigan and Western Michigan, after viewers pointed out what appeared to be a mismatch between the official game clock and the timer shown on the television broadcast.

Western Michigan looked to be on the verge of a stunning college football upset at the Big House, seemingly sealing victory over the Wolverines by knocking down a Hail Mary attempt as time ran out.

Instead, officials made the controversial decision to restore one second to the clock, handing Michigan one final chance. The Wolverines capitalized, as Bryce Underwood uncorked a 47-yard pass and connected with JJ Buchanan as the clock hit zero for a second time.

The dramatic play delivered Michigan a 13-12 victory and sent the Ann Arbor crowd into a frenzy, but the aftermath has centered almost entirely on the officiating decision that kept the game alive.

In the hours since, fans have flooded social media with accusations that the finish was “rigged” in favor of Michigan, one of the wealthiest and most influential programs in college football.

The Big Ten has since released audio and footage of officials making the decision, but fans quickly noted the game clock being used by officials and the one seen by fans watching on NBC were different.

The disparity led Fanta to address the situation during halftime of their action on Sunday night.

He said: ‘The official time of the game is kept by the Big Ten. Our cameras are not the official arbiter of time keeping within the game. That is the Big Ten and game officials’ responsibility.

‘After the game last night the Big Ten released a statement and raw video from its replay process that showed how and why the decision was made.’

The footage showed officials determining that Broncos No. 18 Micah Davis had jumped from out of bounds, meaning the play was over as soon as he touched the ball.

They then flicked up the game clock and said, ‘When 18 is touching the football we’ve got one second on the clock’. That was seemingly not the case on the game clock seen by viewers on NBC’s broadcast. 

A Big Ten statement accompanying the footage said: ‘Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s #18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock. 

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‘As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling.

‘Eighty-five minutes prior to the game, all broadcast cameras used for the replay system, including the camera on the game clock, are synced using a strobe system to ensure all cameras are aligned,’ it added.

The Big Ten cited NCAA football rule 4-2-3-a that a ‘ball not in player control, other than a kick that scores a field goal, is out of bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game official or anything else that is out-of-bound, or that is on or outside a boundary line.’

One fan immediately asked: ‘Why is this clock completely misaligned with the clock the broadcast had, which they confirmed was in sync with the official game clock?’ as another said: ‘Oh ya you have a special clock only you can see the rest of us can’t, so that’s all that matters…’. 

Despite numerous responses still questioning the explanation, passionate Michigan fan Dave Portnoy responded: ‘It’s objectively hilarious that people thought Michigan, the crown jewel of college football, would blatantly cheat to win a football game. Integrity and character will always come before winning at Michigan. That what makes Michigan Michigan.’

And MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said both he and officials from Western Michigan accepted the Big Ten explanation of the decision after reaching out for more information. 

‘I commend Western Michigan for the outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan,’ he said in a statement.

‘I also appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Big Ten office and its prompt response in reviewing the play and providing the requested clarification.’

NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay was also confused as to what occurred on the broadcast, offering the new theory that the two game clocks were not aligned related to the Hawkeye system now used to register first downs. 

‘Our producer tells us that our in-set clock is in sync, is the actual the stadium clock,’ said McAulay. ‘The ball isn’t even close to touching a player when it goes to zero.

‘Now, their Hawkeye system apparently either had different sync or whatever, and they came up with one second when it touched the player. I don’t see how that happened, assuming our clock is correct. It is clearly not touching a player. The ball is clearly still in the air when the clock goes to zero on our screen.

‘So you know, the Big Ten is gonna have to tell a lot of us, how did they get to one second on this play?’

A disruptive American Airlines passenger who was restrained with duct tape and zip ties after allegedly shouting slurs during a flight has been fired by an Arizona real estate company following reports of “concerning criminal charges.”

Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, lost his position as a real estate agent with Tucson-based Long Realty after he was identified as the passenger accused of yelling the N-word at a flight attendant and shouting anti-gay insults aboard American Airlines Flight 618 on Thursday night.

“Long Realty is aware of reports concerning criminal charges filed against a former affiliated real estate agent arising from an incident that allegedly occurred during a commercial flight,” the company said in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday.

“Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual. The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity,” Long Realty added.

The company said the behavior detailed in the reports does not reflect its standards, stating: “The conduct described in the reports is wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others that Long Realty expects from those affiliated with the company.”

We expect those associated with our company to uphold those values, and we have no tolerance for conduct that so clearly falls short of those expectations,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew members, and others affected by this incident.”

Lundeen’s LinkedIn said he was a vice president at Long Realty in Tucson. However, his profile had been scrubbed from the company site.

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Traveler Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer who was on board the flight from Dallas to Newark, told ABC News he and his friend Richard Olenick jumped into action when they heard Lundeen, two rows behind them, becoming “belligerent” at the end of the flight.

“[The] gentleman sitting two rows behind us started becoming belligerent, making derogatory remarks to the staff of American Airlines and other passengers, racial slurs, vulgar language, very offensive to the women” sitting in the row behind Lundeen, Mejia said.

Olenick said Mejia “got up right away and jumped in the seat right next to the passenger and began working on restraining him in order to keep the situation contained.”

Insane photos show Lundeen’s head, hands, and torso duct-taped haphazardly to the chair and his wrists bound together in an attempt to restrain him.

The flight was diverted to Baltimore due to a “disruptive customer,” and Lundeen was removed from the plane and arrested upon landing, before passengers could continue to their destination, American Airlines told The Post.

The FBI confirmed Lundeen was arrested by Maryland Transportation Police.

The bigoted ex-realtor was hit with state-level charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, court records show.

“The FBI is currently conducting interviews to gather the facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed,” the bureau said.

Dolly Parton’s official social media channels have published a new message to fans, arriving two weeks after the country music icon’s death.

Parton, the beloved singer, songwriter and entertainer, died on August 25 at age 80. Since then, tributes have continued to pour in from famous friends, fellow artists and generations of fans touched by her music and larger-than-life spirit.

As admirers around the world continue to grieve, her official Instagram account offered a comforting message drawn from one of her own songs: a lyric from “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” released in 1977 on the album New Harvest… First Gathering.

Set against a simple pink background, the post read: “I can see the light of a clear blue morning… everything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be okay.”

The caption included only a blue butterfly emoji, a symbol long associated with Parton and one that carried an especially emotional resonance for fans mourning her loss.

The country icon’s death shocked the world and came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her well-being. 

Parton’s representatives revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’ in a statement to People, though they did not disclose what type of cancer it was. 

Her death was first confirmed in an Instagram video posted over two weeks ago by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver. 

She passed away after being admitted on August 21 to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney issues, according to TMZ. 

Four days prior her death, the singer told People she had ‘so many things I want to achieve,’ including launching a new hotel and museum in Nashville, Tennessee. 

In the wake of her passing, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport are seeking to name the travel hub in her honor. 

Lee said he has spoken to Parton’s team about the proposal and, according to Page Six, her representatives showed appreciation for the gesture and said they are open to the idea, per a press release from Lee and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. 

Earlier this week, Parton’s younger sister, Stella Parton, shared a social media post asking internet users to ‘show more compassion’ as their family grieves. 

She also railed against AI posts and ‘snarky tweets’ that she and her family have been subjected to in the days after the country icon’s death.

On Friday, September 4, Stella, 77, took to Instagram to post two slides of a typed letter, writing in part: ‘We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way. 

‘Sadly, because of the way our lives have been in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers.’ 

She urged her 123,000 followers to ‘use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others.’ 

‘It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets. At the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself? It’s not about what other individuals you will never meet think of you!’ 

Last week, Stella also shared another post in the wake of her sister’s passing and revealed the extent of the musician’s generosity. 

In a Facebook post, she unveiled that amid her secret battle with cancer, Parton was willing to try experimental drugs ‘in the hope of helping others in the future.’ 

She described her late sibling as ‘one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I’ve ever known.’ 

Stella added: ‘If anyone gets to heaven I’m sure she made it right on time. I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way.’

She went on to give fans a glimpse into the weekly routine she had with her older sister. 

‘Every Tuesday about this time, before the sun came up and the world was still asleep, she and I for many years had our coffee together over the phone,’ Stella shared. 

‘Being little farm girls we’ve continued to be early risers. As she liked to say, “Shoot Tedda, we get more work done before the sun comes up than most folks do all day long!”‘

‘We would catch up on gossip, as sisters do, and drink coffee and make plans as it has always been our way,’ she added.

President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Parton and ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in her honor.

Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades. Her famous hits include Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You.

Even for a player as locked in as Carlos Alcaraz, the whirlwind of a Grand Slam draw can apparently get a little confusing.

After beating American Tommy Paul to secure his place in the quarterfinals, the Spanish tennis star appeared on ESPN and seemed momentarily unsure about which match would determine his next opponent.

During the post-match segment, Andy Roddick asked Alcaraz to assess the players he could face next: Stefanos Tsitsipas or Ben Shelton.

Alcaraz paused, then quickly realized he had been tracking the wrong section of the draw.

“Oh my god, I thought I was playing [Daniil] Medvedev-[Frances] Tiafoe,” Alcaraz said in surprise. “Thank you man.”

The whole situation created a good laugh among the panel on the ESPN set, situated just outside Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

He did try to discuss the two tennis players, but Roddick’s laughter made it quite difficult to continue with the conversation. 

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Finally, he was asked, “you’re going to watch the match tonight?”

“For sure I’m going to watch it,” he said while the laughter continued. 

Shelton went on to win in straight sets over Tsitsipas to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals and a date with Alcaraz. 

By the time he spoke with reporters, it seemed that Alcaraz had everything sorted out and had discussed the idea of playing his next opponent. 

“If it is Shelton, really powerful player,” he said. “I think he use the crowd, the people behind him, especially when he’s playing here at home. I’m excited about playing the quarterfinal, either if it is against one or other. So I’ve got to be ready. I’m going to watch it, and I’ll be ready for that.”

Alcaraz is looking to repeat as U.S. Open champion after he defeated Jannik Sinner in the last year’s finals. 

If he does repeat, he would be the first men’s player to do so in just under two decades.