The Mid-American Conference asked the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and College Football Playoff to treat Western Michigan as Saturday’s winner, arguing the Broncos should have prevailed 12-7.
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said replay officials violated protocol by using an embedded replay-system clock rather than the program-feed clock, which he said would have shown time had expired.
That decision restored 1 second after Bryce Underwood’s incomplete heave, creating the extra snap on which Michigan beat Western Michigan 13-12 with a Hail Mary touchdown to JJ Buchanan.
The Big Ten had defended the ruling by saying an official clock not visible on TV or in the stadium governed the review, and Michigan has kept that conference explanation as its position.
The dispute now shifts from officiating to rankings and selection consequences, with the MAC seeking corrective recognition from NCAA and CFP authorities rather than an on-field replay.