MAC appealing for Western Michigan to be declared winner after Michigan replay controversy
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 t...