MAC appeals WMU loss to Michigan, asks NCAA oversight, CFP to count it as win

MAC appeals WMU football loss to Michigan, asks to count it as win.

Key points

• The Mid-American Conference is switching its course and appealing Western Michigan's loss to Michigan in Week 1, the conference confirmed Tuesday, Sept.
• Mike Norvell, Luke Fickell and Lincoln Riley lead the list of coaches facing pressure entering the 2026 college football season.
• "As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, " Steinbrecher remarked.
• It led to Bryce Underwood's 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan as time expired.
• The decision cost Western Michigan of a 12-7 win on the road at Michigan, ranked No.

MAC appeals WMU football loss to Michigan, asks to count it as win. Austin Curtright USA TODAY NETWORK. Lincoln Riley joins coaches facing major pressure in 2026.

Notably, the Mid-American Conference is switching its course and appealing Western Michigan's loss to Michigan in Week 1, the conference confirmed Tuesday, Sept. 8.

For context, the MAC asserted in an announcement that Sizeable Ten authorities and the replay booth didn't apply the proper protocol when adding one second of clock back to the game. It led to Bryce Underwood's 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan as time expired.

REQUIRED READING: Western Michigan president wanted a way to appeal decision, 'but there is none'.

The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained, MAC commissioner John Steinbrecher remarked in the announcement. Instead, the Major Ten Conference replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system. Consequently, one second was placed back on the game clock and an extra 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 applied, no further play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12-7.

Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhana backs the conference's decision to appeal the game's outcome.

Some have read our actions as weak, he wrote in an official note on Sept. 8. Nevertheless, supporting student-athletes and their expansion during a time of adversity is strength. Being bitter doesn't create 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."

Notably, the decision cost Western Michigan of a 12-7 win on the road at Michigan, ranked No. 16 in the US LBM Coaches Poll at the time. The Broncos held the Wolverines scoreless for almost the entire game after Michigan scored on the opening drive.

As Kavalhana remarked after the game there was no path to an appeal, it's a switch from Western Michigan's stance after the game.

"I've looked into this pretty closely. I applied to be a federal prosecutor. I don't discern anything unfair or untoward in this process, " Kavalhuna remarked to journalists.

While Michigan fell eight spots from No, western Michigan received seven votes in the most-recent Coaches Poll prior to Week 2 of the season. 16 to No. 24.

"As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, " Steinbrecher remarked. "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." SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around MAC appeals WMU loss to Michigan, asks NCAA oversight, CFP to count point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.