Nobody on the NBC television feed saw time left on the clock when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s Hail Mary sailed out of the end zone against Western Michigan on Sept. 12. Western Michigan fans, and frankly, anyone watching, thought the game was over. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher himself watched it on TV, certain a review was coming. But did anyone expect what happened next? After an official review, *one whole second* was put back on the clock. That’s all Michigan needed, as Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard Hail Mary, snatching a 13-12 victory right out from under the Broncos.
That Replay Clock Mess Was Real
The Mid-American Conference is not letting this one slide. They’ve fired off formal appeals to both the FBS oversight committee and the College Football Playoff, demanding Western Michigan get recognized as the winner of that game. Steinbrecher isn’t sugarcoating it, saying he’s “disappointed it’s not being recorded as a ‘W’ right now.” He believes Western Michigan “made a statement that people will remember.” And you know what? He’s right. The MAC reversed its initial stance, now stating it is “evident that replay protocol was not followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock.” This whole fiasco boils down to the Big Ten replay crew using a clock feed *within their own replay system*, not the game clock viewers saw on NBC. Seriously?
The Protocol Was Clear: Use the Game Feed
Steinbrecher confirmed the obvious: there’s a protocol, and replay officials are “instructed to utilize the game feed.” Period. So how did this happen? Apparently, the Big Ten might be the “only one” using a replay system with an *internal* clock feed. That’s a huge problem when the whole world, and official protocol, says to look at the game clock. The MAC initially accepted the Big Ten’s explanation after the game. But Steinbrecher clarified that social media backlash had zero impact on their decision to appeal. He said they were “working the process,” gathering information to “verify or refute” what happened. Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna summed it up perfectly: “We can respect the game while asking serious questions.”
Now, the MAC, with Steinbrecher working closely with Western Michigan officials, is pushing for justice. This isn’t just about one game; it’s about the integrity of every single second on that clock.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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