Mid-American Conference takes aim at Big Ten over Western Michigan loss

Jon Steinbrecher, commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, is formally appealing the results of the controversial Michigan Wolverines' 13-12 win over the Western Michigan Broncos, Saturday, Sept. 6.

The Broncos appeared to have won the game as time expired on a Hail Mary pass from Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood that was eventually batted down.

Big Ten officials though, after reviewing the replay system, said that one second remained in the game, giving Michigan another bite at the apple. A subsequent 47-yard pass was completed to Wolverines receiver JJ Buchanan, allowing them to claim the win.

“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,” Steinbrecher said in a statement from the conference.

He further noted: “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.

“This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock. 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.”

The MAC has appealed the result 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,” Steinbrecher said in the statement.

What does the appeal mean for Michigan football and the MAC?

After initially seeming to acquiesce to the Big Ten’s explanation released after the game Saturday, the MAC apparently came to the same conclusion that millions across the country saw – Michigan was dominated defensively from start to finish.

They put themselves in that precarious position and lost the game, as the prior Hail Mary toss showed the clock hitting zeroes. Whether the NCAA and CFP do anything about it remains to be seen.

Michigan was ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 prior to Saturday, a loss to a Group 6 team would have certainly doomed any hopes of making the season-ending playoffs.

Of course, given the way the team played and the controversy that has ensued, that may be a foregone conclusion.

George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mid-American Conference takes aim at Big Ten over Western Michigan loss