The Mid-American Conference is taking an aggressive attitude toward how Saturday’s game between Michigan and Western Michigan ended.
In a statement, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said it was “evident” that replay protocol was not properly followed in the final moments of Michigan’s controversial 13-12 victory at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday. Replay protocol states that the game clock used by the broadcast feed should be used on time decisions, while the Big Ten relied on the clock within its own replay system.
“The Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner of the game for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations, and take such other corrective action as may well be within their authority,” the statement read.
Official Statement Regarding Western Michigan – Michigan Football Game
— MACtion (@MACSports) September 8, 2026
🗒️: https://t.co/eYw49T9ABR pic.twitter.com/LKXQ0qm5s9
The MAC’s request might not necessarily overturn the result of the game in the record books. However, this suggests that they would like the game to be treated like a Western Michigan win for purposes of rankings and College Football Playoff selection, however unlikely that outcome may be.
Notably, the MAC appears to be taking a different approach than Western Michigan itself. The school indicated that it would not appeal the outcome, though that was largely because they did not see any mechanism through which they could do so.
The Big Ten released the communications from its replay system that showed how the decision was ultimately made to put one second back on the clock in Saturday’s game, which allowed the Wolverines to score on a game-winning Hail Mary. That was not enough to silence the critics who feel that the Broncos were robbed of an upset victory by behind-the-scenes machinations.
