Home / Sports / NCAA Confirms Michigan's Controversial Win Flawed
NCAA Confirms Michigan's Controversial Win Flawed
17 Sep
Summary
- NCAA committee stated Michigan's win followed improper officiating protocols.
- A one-second clock addition led to Michigan's game-winning touchdown.
- NCAA issued new guidance on using embedded game clock feeds.
The NCAA's football oversight committee has stated that the outcome of Michigan's 13-12 victory against Western Michigan "would have been different" had officiating protocols been correctly followed. The committee confirmed that officials improperly added one second to the clock, which subsequently allowed Michigan to score a game-winning 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass.
While the committee lacks the authority to overturn the contest's result, this ruling came after the MAC filed a formal appeal requesting recognition of Western Michigan as the winner. In response to the controversy, new guidance was issued before Week 2 games regarding game timing protocols. This guidance specifies that timing decisions should rely on the "embedded game clock contained within the program feed."
If this method had been employed during the Michigan game, no time would have been added to the clock. The Big Ten has also enhanced its replay review transparency. Despite the FBS Oversight Committee's conclusion, a Big Ten officiating crew worked the game and the league asserted its officials correctly added time to the clock.
