Mid-American Conference asks NCAA to recognize Western Michigan as winner over Michigan

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has formally requested that the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff acknowledge Western Michigan as the winner of its recent game against Michigan. In a statement released Tuesday, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said the replay review that added an extra play at the end of the contest did not follow established protocol.

"After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock at the conclusion of the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game," Steinbrecher wrote.

He explained that the Big Ten replay crew used an internal clock feed rather than the program-feed clock required by the rules, resulting in one second being reinstated on the clock and an additional play being allowed. Steinbrecher argued that, had the correct clock been used, the game would have ended with Western Michigan leading 12–7.

The commissioner called on the governing bodies to "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 be within their authority."