The NCAA dropped a bomb on Wednesday, officially confirming that rules officials straight up erred in Michigan’s incredibly tight 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. Turns out, they added a critical one second to the clock in that game, and the NCAA committee is pretty clear: that was a massive mistake.
Clock Chaos and Botched Protocols
This whole mess centers on the game’s second-to-last play. The NCAA committee, after consulting with national officiating leadership, determined the instant replay protocols just weren’t followed. You gotta wonder how that even happens in such a close game, right? The margin was literally one point!
The Outcome That Should’ve Been
Here’s the kicker, the one that’ll have Michigan fans breathing a sigh of relief and WMU fans absolutely fuming: the NCAA statement said it themselves. They agreed that had those protocols actually been followed, “the outcome of the game would have been different.” Think about that for a second. That’s a direct admission that the score, as it stands, might not reflect what *should* have happened. It’s wild.
So, where do we go from here? Well, despite the glaring mistake, the NCAA also made it clear: the outcome of the game is final. It won’t be overturned. That 13-12 score for Michigan is locked in, no matter how much the rules officials messed up 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 Bleacher Report.
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