KALAMAZOO, MI — The Mid-American Conference is formally appealing the ruling that decided Saturday’s Western Michigan-Michigan game, saying the ending was handled incorrectly and changed the result on the field. The conference has asked the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee to review what happened and to take corrective action.
The dispute centers on the final sequence of a 13-12 Michigan victory that had looked, for a moment, like a 12-7 Western Michigan upset. The Broncos were already on the field celebrating when officials ordered a review. TV replays appeared to show the clock at zero before the ball reached a Western Michigan defender, but the ruling gave Michigan one more play.
How the final ruling turned a Broncos celebration into a Wolverine touchdown
According to the conference and university officials, the review process was handled through a Big Ten system agreed upon by both conferences. The on-field officials did not make the final decision themselves. Instead, review information was sent to a central review center that made the call.
The result was a second chance for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, who connected with JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown pass. That play flipped the game from a Western Michigan win into a 13-12 Michigan victory and turned what had been an upset celebration into one of the most talked-about endings of the weekend.
The matchup carried extra weight because Michigan was a 27 1/2-point favorite and Western Michigan was the defending MAC champion. A win would have given the Broncos their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2015.
MAC says the proper clock should have ended the game
In its appeal, the MAC said the review should never have granted another snap. The conference said that if the proper program-feed clock had been used, no additional play would have been awarded and Western Michigan would have won, 12-7.
The conference is asking that the NCAA and related bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner for ranking purposes and other official records tied to the game. That request goes beyond frustration over a close call and reaches into how the result is reflected nationally.
On Sunday, WMU President Russ Kavalhuna also confirmed that the Big Ten’s game clock showed something different from what fans saw on television. His comments supported the view that the ending turned on which clock was used in the review process.
Western Michigan leaders say they are moving forward despite the controversy
After the game, head coach Lance Taylor and Kavalhuna said they were focused on moving forward, even as the ending drew strong reaction. Both said they appreciated the Big Ten’s professionalism and transparency in explaining the review process.
Their comments did not echo the more heated online claims that the game had been stolen or manipulated. Instead, they pointed to the explanation they received and the need to keep the Broncos centered on football after a painful loss.
That approach stood in contrast to some of the outside reaction, which kept the disputed ending in the spotlight well after the final whistle.
MAC first accepted the explanation before changing course
Before filing the appeal, the MAC had initially accepted the ruling. The conference said it appreciated the clarification from the Big Ten and also congratulated Michigan on the win.
The change in stance suggests that the conference decided the issue deserved a stronger response once the full implications of the final ruling were considered. By moving the matter to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee, the MAC is asking for an official review of whether the outcome should stand as recorded.
Western Michigan President Russ Kavalhuna later thanked Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and the conference for taking action. He said the support for Coach Taylor and the Broncos had been overwhelming and praised their character and sportsmanship.
Michigan’s ranking took a rare hit after the disputed victory
Even with the win, Michigan was not rewarded in the Associated Press Top 25. The Wolverines fell out of 16th place, marking the biggest drop from ranked to unranked after a win since at least 2008.
That ranking fallout shows how unusual the game was, even beyond the disputed final play. A team that technically won still absorbed a major reputational hit because of how chaotic and controversial the ending looked to viewers and voters.
For Western Michigan, the appeal offers a chance to keep pressing for recognition of what the Broncos believe happened on the field. For Michigan, it leaves an upset escape tied to one of the most unusual finishes in recent college football memory.
