“Western Michigan University won that football game,” is the absolute bombshell Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna dropped to CBS Sports, a declaration that directly challenges Michigan’s 13-12 Week 1 victory. This isn’t just some disgruntled fan; this is the president of a university calling out a major program after a controversial call.
The Game Clock That Shook College Football
Let’s rewind to Week 1 in Ann Arbor, because this one still stings. The Broncos were leading Michigan 12-7 when Big Ten officials added one critical second back to the clock. That single tick was all Michigan needed. Quarterback Bryce Underwood launched a 47-yard heave to J.J. Buchanan, finding him in the end zone as time expired, snatching the win from WMU. Western Michigan spent four days biting its tongue, but Kavalhuna finally let loose. This isn’t just about a win or a loss; it’s about how that win was recorded.
The NCAA Steps In, But Won’t Step Back
The aftermath has been a whirlwind. The NCAA, clearly feeling the pressure, issued a new standard timing protocol for replays on Tuesday. This new rule instructs replay officials to use “the embedded game clock contained within the program feed.” Guess what? A memo obtained by ESPN confirms that under this new standard, Western Michigan *wins* that game against Michigan. Yep, you read that right. The MAC wasn’t quiet either; they filed formal appeals with the NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, asking them to recognize the Broncos as the winner. The NCAA, though, quickly answered that its playing rules contain no protocol for overturning a game’s outcome. So, they admit WMU should have won, but they can’t change it. Seriously? The Big Ten, for its part, is trying to improve things, expanding its in-broadcast replay program to include live audio between the referee and the replay official in every game, not just Friday nights. That’s a start, but it doesn’t fix what happened.
President Kavalhuna Stands Firm Amidst the Fire
President Kavalhuna isn’t backing down from his stance, even though he’s taken “some heat” for it. He told CBS Sports that Western Michigan is embracing “acceptance over outrage,” but he still fundamentally believes his team won. “Western Michigan University can’t be the entity that is shaking its fist and saying we’re the experts on these types of NCAA protocols,” he said, clarifying that his position isn’t “we win or somebody cheated.” But, let’s be real, the facts speak for themselves. He was, however, happy to see the NCAA change its clock procedure for replays, addressing the exact disconnect that put that one second back on the clock last week. It’s a small victory in a bigger fight.
So, while the scoreboard still says Michigan, the head of Western Michigan and the NCAA’s own new rules tell a different story. What a way to kick off the season; it leaves us all wondering what future clock controversies might get a second look.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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