Michigan’s Week 1 win over Western Michigan is suddenly under the microscope, and the MAC is pushing hard for a result that would flip the game to a Broncos victory.
The dispute centers on the final second. Western Michigan and plenty of people watching believed the game was over when the clock hit zero, but replay officials said there was still one second left.
The Big Ten’s position is that the replay process was handled correctly. The MAC disagrees, and it has filed a formal complaint arguing the protocol was not followed the way it should have been.
At the heart of the conference’s case is the clock itself. The MAC says the replay process requires using the clock tied to the TV feed, and that feed showed time had expired. That is why Western Michigan thought it had won, and why fans poured onto the field afterward.
If the appeal somehow succeeds, it would be a stunning first for college football. There is no precedent for overturning a game after a winner has already been declared. It would also create the bizarre image of a crowd storming the field after the home team had actually lost.
Michigan did walk away with the win on the scoreboard, but it still took a hit in the AP Poll. Pollsters dropped the Wolverines after what they viewed as a rough offensive showing, and they are not expected to be in the top 25 anytime soon no matter how this appeal ends.
The whole situation has also given Ohio State fans something to smile about. If the result were ever overturned, it would be the ultimate troll.
For now, Ohio State remains No. 1 in the country, which still feels right after Week 1. The Buckeyes handled Ball State 56-3, while Michigan had far more trouble with its MAC opponent. That ranking gets a serious test this week, though, with Texas coming to town.
Texas climbed to No. 4 in the polls, setting up a top-four showdown on Saturday night. Ryan Day said he feels good about where his team stands, but the Buckeyes still have a chance to make an even bigger statement to the rest of the country.
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