Michigan football officially won its Week 1 opener against Western Michigan with a crazy 47-yard Hail Mary from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan as time expired, giving them a 13-12 victory on September 5. But here’s the real kicker: the FBS Oversight Committee just dropped a statement on Wednesday, September 16, confirming that outcome should never have happened. Talk about a gut punch for Western Michigan fans.
The Committee’s Verdict: Protocols Weren’t Followed
The FBS Oversight Committee consulted with national officiating leadership, and their conclusion is damning. They agreed that the instant replay protocols were absolutely not followed on the contest’s second-to-last play. This isn’t just a minor oversight, folks. The committee flat-out stated that had the protocols been followed, the game’s outcome would have been totally different. What does “different” mean? It means Western Michigan, who came in as a four-touchdown road underdog, would have actually won the game 12-7. Michigan stole one, plain and simple, and the powers that be know it.
No Recourse: The NCAA’s Hands Are Tied
Despite this clear acknowledgment of a massive officiating screw-up, there’s absolutely nothing the NCAA can do to change the result. That’s right, nothing. Two separate bylaws state it loud and clear: Rule 1-1-3-b says when the referee declares the game is ended, the score is final. And Rule 5-2-9 reinforces that no rule decision can be changed once the ball is next snapped, free-kicked, or the period ends. Western Michigan officials initially said they weren’t going to appeal because there was no process. But a few days later, the Mid-American Conference rightly changed course, issuing a statement to seek justice and asking the NCAA and FBS Oversight Committee to recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner. But alas, nothing will change. What a mess.
Life After the Debacle
Michigan, despite the controversy, used its sloppy play as motivation and bounced back strong in Week 2. They pulled off an impressive 17-10 upset win over previously 10th-ranked Oklahoma. After falling out of the US LBM Coaches Poll following the WMU debacle, U-M vaulted all the way back up to No. 19 in the rankings. Western Michigan, meanwhile, took out its frustrations on Monmouth, pummeling the Hawks 49-14, moving to 1-1 on the season. Michigan heads into its Week 3 matchup against UTEP, while the Broncos are preparing to play Rice on the road in Houston. It’s a shame a legitimate win was snatched away, but both teams are moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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