NCAA oversight committee says replay rules were not followed in Michigan's last-second win
The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee found that instant-replay protocols were mishandled during Michigan's Hail Mary victory over Western Michigan, but said it lacks authority to change the result.
The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee said Wednesday that the instant-replay procedures were not applied correctly on the second-to-last play of Michigan's Hail Mary win over Western Michigan, and that proper application would have altered the outcome. The committee noted it consulted national officiating leadership and concluded the protocols were missed, but it has no power to overturn a game result.
The Mid-American Conference had asked the committee and the College Football Playoff to reverse the result, citing the misapplied replay rule. The Big Ten said it stands by the officials' decision, which relied on a game-clock feed different from the broadcast feed. NCAA rules allow an alternate feed if the broadcast feed is unavailable, provided it is made accessible to the broadcast.
The committee reiterated that once a referee declares a contest final, the playing rules prohibit any appeal of the outcome. NCAA football secretary-rules editor Matt Young later clarified that when time must be restored or adjusted, replay officials should use the embedded clock in the program feed, or the TV graphic if that feed is not available. The Big Ten also announced expanded live replay look-in access, letting viewers hear every replay conversation for Big Ten home games staffed by conference officials.