MAC updates statement after Western Michigan Hail Mary debacle; appeals result

The Mid-American Conference is taking action after Saturday's controversial finish between Western Michigan and Michigan, where an extra second was added to the clock after the game was initially deemed final.

In that added second, Michigan completed a 47-yard Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan, transforming Western Michigan's 12-7 victory to a 13-7 Michigan win.

The conference initially released a statement hours after the game, stating the Big Ten provided proper clarification about the replay process and congratulating Michigan in the process. But on Tuesday, the MAC greatly shifted its tone.

Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher released the following statement, announcing the conference will formally the result to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee, requesting that Western Michigan is declared the winner of Saturday's contest:

"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.

The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained. Instead, 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.

This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock. It was an error in the application of the established replay protocol governing this specific end-of-game timing situation. Had the protocol been properly followed and the program-feed clock been used, no additional play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12–7.

As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies 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."

No college football result has ever been overturned in hindsight. There is a recent precedent of an officiating crew erroneously adding an extra play to a game, which altered the outcome of the contest. In 2016, an officiating error awarded Central Michigan an untimed down against Oklahoma State when the game should have been ruled over, as the Cowboys legally committed an intentional grounding penalty on fourth down as time expired, which does not require an extension of gametime. Central Michigan capitalized on the untimed down that never should have occurred with a Hail Mary and hook-and-ladder touchdown.

Oklahoma State did not formally appeal the result, however, and it remained a Central Michigan victory (though, then head-coach Mike Gundy and the university have claimed the game as a win unofficially at points).

The NCAA rulebook might complicate the MAC's appeal on behalf of Western Michigan. Section 1, Article 3 states "When the referee declares that the game is ended, the score is final."

The MAC leadership's public turnabout could also them in a tricky spot; Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna and head coach Lance Taylor discussed the result and how the program would deal with the fallout on Sunday afternoon, saying the team, coach and administration were in agreement on taking the loss and moving forward for the rest of the season — even if they did not agree with the process behind the decision.

President Kavalhuna also released a statement Monday in response to the MAC's, stating the university's willingness to accept defeat:

Commissioner Steinbrecher and the MAC have taken important action today in college football. The support we have received from across the country for Coach Taylor and our Broncos, for their character and their sportsmanship, has been overwhelming, and we are grateful for it. Some have read our actions as weak. However, supporting student-athletes and their growth during a time of adversity is strength. Being bitter doesn't make you better and this should not be mistaken for weakness or agreement. We can show respect for the game while also asking serious questions. I've done both, and I'll keep doing both. Our job at Western Michigan is to play the game and help our students grow. It's the job of the conferences and the NCAA to enforce the rules. Our Broncos will continue to take the field against any opponent.

Regardless of what happens from this point, the "Bail Mary" saga doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. The game will almost certainly be a season-long topic of discussion depending on how both teams perform in the 2026 campaign. To wit, Michigan fell out of the AP Top 25 on Tuesday afternoon, landing several spots ahead of Western Michigan in the "other receiving votes" section — right around the time the MAC released its statement.

There is no precedent for an overturned result, and the MAC's appeal is unlikely to materialize in favor of the Broncos. However, the public sentiment is seemingly on the conference's side, which could factor into some sort of changes or developments down the line.