MAC appealing outcome of Western Michigan-Michigan game: ‘Replay protocol was not properly followed’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
The MAC has changed course. The conference announced Tuesday that it will now formally appeal the outcome of the Western Michigan-Michigan game that had the Wolverines win 13-12 on a Hail Mary after 1 second was added back onto the game clock.
On Sunday, the MAC indicated that it accepted the Big Ten’s explanation for why replay officials added 1 second to the clock when it appeared the clock hit 0:00 on an incomplete pass. The Big Ten released a statement and video explaining why the replay booth’s clock had time remaining in the game.
Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher released a new statement on Tuesday saying that after “further study and investigation,” the conference feels that replay protocol was not followed.
The MAC will formally appeal the outcome to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, asking that Western Michigan be recognized as winning 12-7 for rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations.
Official Statement Regarding Western Michigan – Michigan Football Game
— MACtion (@MACSports) September 8, 2026
🗒️: https://t.co/eYw49T9ABR pic.twitter.com/LKXQ0qm5s9
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,” Steinbrecher’s statement reads.
“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.
AP voters dropped Michigan out of the top 25 following the 13-12 victory. Michigan plays Oklahoma in Week 2. Western Michigan hosts Monmouth on Saturday.
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Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
