No. 16 Michigan’s 13-12 victory over Western Michigan came down to the wire, but it was the one second added back to the clock that has everyone talking. What began as an improbable, last-second win has erupted into college football’s first major debate of the season. But here’s the kicker: Western Michigan’s own president and coach are saying they won’t appeal it. Can you believe that?
The Big Ten Says They Got It Right
So, what actually went down? Both the Big Ten and the Mid-American Conference weighed in, saying officials added one second back to the clock in that wild 13-12 finish. The Big Ten has been rock solid since Saturday night, maintaining their officials made the correct call. Their statement dropped the info that Western Michigan defender Micah Davis “started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position” and actually touched the ball with one second still left on the clock. That’s wild, right? They even said their broadcast cameras, including the one trained on the stadium clock, are aligned with some strobe system before kickoff to account for any gap between their replay clock and what you saw on NBC. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti even gave props, saying, “I commend Western Michigan for an outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan.” The MAC commissioner, Jon Steinbrecher, confirmed it too, saying he got video and audio evidence from the Big Ten that backed up the explanation. He even echoed Petitti’s commendation for Western Michigan. It sounds like they are all on the same page. Even NBC addressed it, stating, “Our cameras are not the official arbiter of timekeeping within the game.”
Western Michigan’s Own Players And Management Won’t Blame The Clock
This is where it gets crazy, man. You’d think Western Michigan would be fuming, ready to fight tooth and nail. But nope. Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna came out swinging a different way. He said he didn’t “discern anything unfair or untoward” with the Big Ten’s replay decision, even after spending Saturday night talking with Big Ten officials and commissioner Tony Petitti himself. Kavalhuna called it “just a discrepancy,” explaining that what the fans see and what the reviewing officials see are different. His head coach, Lance Taylor, took it even further, saying the refs “ultimately, did not cost” the Broncos the game. Taylor’s got that no-excuses mentality, which you gotta respect, adding, “If we make the mistake of making an excuse, it allows us to be bitter instead of getting better. That’s where we want to go as a football team.”
So, while the internet is still blowing up about that extra second, the folks who actually had to play through it are moving on. Western Michigan might have lost a heartbreaker by one point, but their coach’s mindset shows they’re ready to get better, not bitter. That’s a strong play right there, and it’s a lesson for any team when the chips are down.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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