After Western Michigan Broncos appeared to have secured a 12-7 victory over the Michigan Wolverines, an extra second was added to the game clock by Big Ten officials, resulting in a 13-12 win for Michigan. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has now submitted a formal appeal to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff requesting that Western Michigan be recognized as the “actual winner” of the game.

The MAC stated that replay protocol was not properly followed, as Big Ten officials relied on their embedded clock system instead of the program feed clock required by established procedures. Had the correct protocol been applied, Western Michigan would have won 12-7.

The NCAA rulebook contains conflicting provisions regarding timekeeping: one section mandates reviews must be based on video evidence from televised production, while another grants game officials control over the clock. The NCAA has since implemented a standardized timing protocol requiring that the embedded clock in broadcast feeds serve as the official clock for replay reviews.

The controversy arose when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood completed a Hail Mary pass to JJ Buchanan with the clock showing zero on NBC’s broadcast. After review, Big Ten officials determined one second remained and awarded an extra play. The NCAA confirmed it has no mechanism to reverse game outcomes, and the FBS Oversight Committee lacks authority to overturn results.