The Mid-American Conference has changed tack.
After initially declining to protest the result of Western Michigan’s 13-12 loss to No. 16 Michigan on a last-second Hail Mary, the conference is now officially appealing.
Michigan’s JJ Buchanan hauled in the game-winning touchdown pass after the Wolverines failed on a first attempt and the clock seemingly expired. Upon a video review, Big Ten officials put an additional second back on the clock and Bryce Underwood connected for 47 yards on his second attempt. The result meant the Wolverines avoided a colossal upset in Kyle Whittingham’s first game in charge of the program.
In a statement, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said that replay protocol wasn’t properly followed, leading to the wrong result.
“The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained,” Steinbrecher wrote. “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.”
Crucial to the appeal is Steinbrecher’s contention that this wasn’t an error in judgment, but a complete misapplication of the rules.
“This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock,” he continued. “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.”
To remedy the situation, Steinbrecher argues that the Broncos should be recognized as the winners of the game.
“The Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff,” Steinbrecher wrote. “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.”
With the loss, WMU moved to 0-30 all-time against teams ranked in the top-20.
