The Mid-American Conference formally appealed the result of its Michigan-Western Michigan football game on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, asking the NCAA and College Football Playoff to recognize the Broncos as the actual winner after a disputed replay review added an extra second to the clock.
What looked like a historic upset on Saturday night in Ann Arbor has evolved into a governance showdown over instant replay protocols. Western Michigan appeared to pull off a 12-7 victory over the heavily favored Wolverines at Michigan Stadium when a desperation Hail Mary fell incomplete and the clock hit zeroes. Instead, Big Ten replay officials intervened, added one second back to the game clock, and allowed Bryce Underwood to connect with JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown pass that secured a 13-12 Michigan win.
Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher Cites Replay Protocol Violations
After initially accepting the Big Ten’s explanation following the weekend game, Mid-American Conference leadership reversed course on Tuesday. MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced that formal appeals had been submitted to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff.
“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,”
Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner
According to the MAC’s filing, the dispute centers on which clock feed officials were required to monitor. Steinbrecher stated that established replay rules mandate using the game clock displayed on the television program feed. Rather than following that standard, the Big Ten replay crew utilized a clock feed embedded within their own replay system.
“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.”
Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner
Western Michigan President Russ Kavalhuna Supports the MAC Appeal
By Tuesday, however, Kavalhuna threw his full backing behind the conference’s decision to contest the outcome.
Kavalhuna expanded on that sentiment in a statement released on Tuesday, emphasizing that supporting student-athletes through adversity requires addressing systemic governance questions.
“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.”
Russ Kavalhuna, Western Michigan President
NCAA Rules Limitations and the Stakes for Postseason Rankings
While the MAC is pushing for a record adjustment, the NCAA pushed back on the feasibility of overturning game outcomes.
Even so, the stakes extend well beyond the immediate record book. For Western Michigan, securing a regular-season victory carries immense financial and exposure value under the 12-team College Football Playoff structure, where a ranking good enough to be part of the Playoff could be worth millions of dollars. Meanwhile, the fallout affected both teams in the national polls: Michigan dropped from No. 16 to No. 24 in the coaches poll and fell out of the AP Top 25 entirely, while Western Michigan picked up seven votes in the coaches poll.
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