Add The New York Post on Google The Mid-American Conference isn’t letting the controversial ending to Western Michigan and Michigan go.
In a statement released on Tuesday, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher announced that the conference would be filing a formal appeal of the game after the Wolverines were awarded an extra second on the clock despite time appearing to run out during Saturday night’s game.
“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 statement read.
“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.”
That mistake, Steinbrecher argued, directly changed the outcome of the game.
“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.
“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.”
The announcement marked a sharp reversal from the conference’s initial response to the bizarre finish.
The MAC said shortly after the game that video and audio provided by the Big Ten had confirmed the conference’s explanation for restoring the second on the clock.
The Wolverines appeared to lose the game after a Hail Mary attempt fell to the ground as the clock appeared to go to zero.
After a replay review, referees determined that a Western Michigan defender touched the ball with a second left on the stadium clock, giving Michigan one more chance to salvage the victory.
“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,” a statement from the Big Ten read. “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.”
Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown on the next and final play of the game, stealing the win and setting off the biggest controversy of college football’s first full weekend of the season.
