Big Ten expands live audio replay reviews after disputed Michigan game finish
The conference will now broadcast live audio between referees and replay officials for more games, including all Nebraska matchups, following criticism of a clock-related decision in the Michigan-Western Michigan game.
The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that live audio between on-field referees and replay officials will be included in football broadcasts beginning Saturday. The audio will accompany video of the replay footage and a view inside the conference’s Replay Center, and will be used for all conference games in the 2026 season as well as home non-conference contests officiated by Big Ten crews. Nebraska’s remaining games, including its upcoming non-conference matchups against Bowling Green and North Dakota, will also feature the new procedure.
The change follows criticism of the conference’s handling of the final play in Saturday’s Michigan-Western Michigan game, where a replay review added one second to the clock and allowed a Hail Mary pass that gave Michigan a 13-12 win. The Big Ten released video and audio of the review, but the Mid-American Conference has filed formal appeals with the NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, arguing that the conference used the wrong clock feed during the review.
"After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed... the Big Ten Conference replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system... As a result, one second was placed back on the game clock and an additional play was awarded," the MAC statement said.
The conference said the error was procedural, not a judgment about the amount of time, and affirmed the game result.