The NCAA wasted zero time after Michigan’s bonkers 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, reportedly rolling out a brand new timing protocol. ESPN’s Jake Trotter dropped the news Tuesday, stating this new guidance will “establish a standard timing protocol that ensures consistency in the administration of all college football games.” You know what that means: no more clock controversies, at least in theory.
The New Rules: No More Hail Mary Headaches?
So, what’s the deal? A memo from NCAA national coordinator of officials Ron Snodgrass spilled the details: the official time for all college football games is now the in-stadium clock. If a replay review needs a time adjustment, the replay official bases that call on the embedded game clock in the program feed. If the broadcaster can’t give them that, they’ll use the game-clock graphic from the broadcast itself. Snodgrass was crystal clear, too: “This timing protocol should be followed consistently at all institutions and game sites.” And get this, folks: if this rule was in place on Saturday, Western Michigan would’ve snatched a stunning 12-7 upset victory. Yeah, let that sink in.
How Michigan’s Win Sparked All This Chaos
The controversy? Pure madness. The NBC broadcast clock showed 0:00 after Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first Hail Mary fell incomplete. Western Michigan players were already celebrating, right? But the officials slapped an extra second back on the clock. That second chance was all the Wolverines needed. Underwood’s final heave found JJ Buchanan for the game-winning touchdown, sending fans absolutely wild. The Big Ten tried to clear things up, releasing a statement and video replay showing Western Michigan defensive back Micah Davis started his leap from out of bounds and touched the ball with a second left. Still, it was controversial, to say the least.
MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher kept the story hot Tuesday, requesting the NCAA and College Football Playoff selection committee overturn the result and declare the Broncos the “actual winner.” Steinbrecher wrote to the NCAA, admitting the Oversight Committee doesn’t usually change results on the field, but argued the “circumstances of this game are extraordinary.” He said the final outcome was “directly affected by a replay officiating error resulting from the failure to follow an established and specific protocol.” Unfortunately for the MAC, Trotter reported the NCAA and FBS oversight committee said they can’t overturn game results. Michigan might’ve escaped with that one-point win, but they’ve already dropped out of the Associated Press Top 25. Things get way tougher with Oklahoma up next, followed by Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, and Iowa later this season. They gotta play a lot better than that controversial win if they wanna hang in the hunt.
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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