Josh Pate passes along ref consensus on 'inexplicable' Michigan Clockgate debacle
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The Michigan football team escaped with a controversial victory on Saturday against Western Michigan. Michigan appeared to have lost the game as time expired, but an official review revealed one second should be put back on the clock.
With that one second, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood completed a Hail Mary pass to win the game. Following the victory, college football insider Josh Pate is revealing what NCAA football officials are saying about that wild ending.
“Been on the phone with several CFB refs/officials this morning,” Pate posted to X, formerly Twitter. “They are in complete agreement last night’s outcome in Michigan is one of the most inexplicable they’ve ever seen.”
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An obscure rule in college football was the explanation for why another second was added to the clock.
“Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s #18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock. As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling,” the Big Ten Conference said in a statement after the game, per The Athletic.
Michigan would end up winning the game, 13-12. It was an escape from disaster for new Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham.
“We were flirting with disaster,” Whittingham said. “That would have been an epic loss. They’ll talk about this game for years, I’m sure.”
Whittingham isn’t kidding. This game will likely be discussed for years to come. Michigan has no time to dwell on it, though, as the Wolverines next play Oklahoma on Saturday.
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