MAC formally appealing Western Michigan-Michigan result, says replay protocol wasn't followed

The MAC, in a statement from commissioner Jon Steinbrecher on Wednesday, said after further review and consideration that the replay process applied at the end of the Western Michigan-Michigan game was incorrect, and WMU should be considered the rightful winner.

The MAC has thusly submitted to the NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee and College Football Playoff formal appeals that those two bodies recognize Western Michigan as the “actual winner” of the game for purposes of “rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations,” as well as taking other applicable corrective action. 

In sending this statement and set of appeals, the MAC stated the “established” protocol for replay requires that the game clock displayed on the “program feed” to be used to determine the amount of time remaining. 

“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,” the statement reads, in part. 

It continues, saying it was not a momentary judgement, but 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,” the MAC statement reads. 

The Big Ten stood behind its original statement and decision, releasing a brief statement on Tuesday afternoon in response to the MAC.

"The Big Ten stands by the statement released following the conclusion of the Western Michigan at Michigan game and the determination made by the replay officials. We will have no further comment on the matter," The Big Ten said in that latest statement.

Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna, a former federal prosecutor, said in a press availability on Sunday that he didn't discern anything "untoward" in the replay process, or that the fix was in, but did say then that he was frustrated with the apparent lack of recourse.

He commended the MAC's actions in a statement released shortly after the conference's on Tuesday.

"Commissioner Steinbrecher and the MAC have taken important action today in college football," Kavalhuna's statement reads. "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 out actions as weak. However, support student-athletes and their growth during a time of adversity is strength. Being bitter doesn't make you better and this should not be mistake 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 apparently won the game, 12-7, on Saturday night when a Michigan Hail Mary landed incomplete with no time remaining. However, upon replay review, a second was added back to the clock and Michigan completed an improbably Bryce Underwood-to-JJ Buchanan touchdown to walk it off, though the NBC broadcast had shown viewers what appeared to be no time left on the clock, but the Big Ten replay feed showed there was one second left; the asynchronicity led to plenty of furor.

A Big Ten statement at around 1 a.m. Sunday explained that the officials feed showed one second, releasing a clip of it with audio deliberations, and the MAC quickly assented with that explanation.

But now several days later, the league has dug into the matter further, apparently, and come to a new conclusion: Western Michigan should be the rightful winner.

The MAC statement was released just about an hour after Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor did his weekly game press conference, where he explained how his team was looking to move forward and not be mired in the actions of Saturday night. 

And that very much rings true, as Taylor and Co. have no choice but to bottle their frustrations and prepare to take them out on Monmouth on Saturday night. 

But it appears the MAC is picking up the fight where the Broncos left it, exerting public pressure and pushing ahead with appeals to, evidently, have the result of the season opener changed to a win for Western Michigan.