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The controversy surrounding the ending of the Western Michigan and Michigan game hasn’t slowed down heading into Week 2. Despite formal appeals, statements and lingering concerns the backlash shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
How much time was actually left?
That still hasn’t been determined with so much discrepancy surrounding the play and the cannon of an arm that Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood showcased on Saturday night. As things stand now, the call will stand and there will be no action or league involvement.
Here’s a timeline of everything that’s happened since the controversial call in Ann Arbor:
Saturday Night
Michigan entered the matchup as a nearly four-touchdown favorite. However, Western Michigan hung in there and remained competitive until the final whistle, at one point leading 12-6 and standing on the brink of pulling off the biggest upset in program history.
However, that lead was put to the ultimate test as the clock hit zero and Underwood unleashed a final Hail Mary. As the ball bounced off multiple defenders in the back of the end zone, the game seemed over… or was it?
While the TV broadcast clock showed zero, replay officials came together and confirmed one second remained when the previous pass hit the turf out of bounds. Given one final chance, Underwood this time launched a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown to JJ Buchanan as time expired.
The wild final play was only the start of a controversial sequence that would become the talk of the college football world.
Later On Saturday Night
The controversial call made waves across the sport. Both Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham and Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor shared their thoughts on the final play, which was impactful enough to prompt official statements from both the MAC and the Big Ten.
“But as I looked, I knew it was close,” Whittingham said after the game. “When the ball sailed back to the end zone, I glanced up at the clock, and it was just ticking to zero, and somebody had touched it. I didn’t know who had touched it, but apparently it was a defender that had already established an out-of-bounds position. I’m assuming they got it right. They looked at it and their technology that they have is very advanced, I guess.”
Even with Whittingham coming out victorious, he offered an honest opinion and backed the officials. Similarly, Taylor focused on why his defense failed to execute as they should have, refusing to make excuses.
“I know when I looked up at the clock, it was past zeros before we touched it,” Taylor said. “I knew that they would review it. It was the last play of the game, and because we defended it so well, wasn’t worried or concerned about our guys going out and defending it the second time. Unfortunately, we did not defend it as well the second time.”
The MAC and Big Ten both issued statements following the game, and everyone accepted the outcome despite the controversy.
Sunday Statement Released
NBC Sports Releases Statement
On Sunday, NBC Sports addressed the growing controversy on air during the Washington vs. Washington State game. Host John Fanta delivered a statement on behalf of the network regarding a clock dispute from the game.
He made sure to remind viewers that the TV graphics don’t dictate official game time.
“Now, the official time of the game is kept by the Big Ten,” Fanta said. “Our cameras are not the official arbiter of timekeeping within the game. That is the Big Ten and game officials’ responsibility. After the game last night, the Big Ten released a statement and raw video from its replay process that showed how and why the decision was made.”
Monday: Rules and Extra Seconds Continue to Dominate the Conversation
Rules Analyst Mike Pereira Joins ‘The Joel Klatt Show’
When it comes to the rules of the sport and how officials operate, few people are more qualified than FOX Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira. He joined “The Joel Klatt Show” on Monday to break down the latest controversy.
His explanation for why Big Ten officials didn’t follow protocol focused on the discrepancy, saying that they needed to rely on the television footage.
“The official replay officials have been told that if there is a discrepancy, use the television footage,” Pereira said. “Do not use your footage in the command center. Use the footage that 10 million people are watching, not the one that’s three.”
Despite heavy criticism of the call, Pereira defended the officials but criticized the review result, stating that the game crew made the best possible decision in real time with the information they had.
“When it’s all said and done, that’s what should have happened, and there shouldn’t have been another play,” Pereira said. “They did not look at the television copy of what was being shown to all of us.”
MAC Decides To Appeal Ruling On Tuesday
After initially accepting the ruling, the MAC reversed course and decided to appeal. On Tuesday, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher released a statement indicating that proper replay protocol was not followed.
Following a careful review, the NCAA denied the MAC’s appeal, as the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee stated that it does not have the power to alter the outcome or final score of a game.
With that in mind, Michigan remains the winner of the game, even with all the controversy surrounding the result. Both Michigan and Western Michigan will be heading into Week 2 with an outcome that will always be known as the “what-if” game.
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