Western Michigan fans may want to sit down for this latest update from the NCAA's FBS oversight committee.
Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, the NCAA's FBS oversight committee confirmed on Wednesday that Western Michigan should have won the game against Michigan (y'know, the one with the controversial second added
) earlier this month since instant replay protocols were apparently not followed by the on-site officiating crew.However, the committee also said it did not have the authority to overturn the result of the game, per Trotter. Michigan will keep the win, even though the team did not technically earn it within proper regulation.
"The outcome of the game would have been different," the committee admitted if instant replay protocols had been followed
properly and the extra second had not been added to the clock, according to Trotter's report.
That's, obviously, not going to make Western Michigan and its fans feel any better after the game's officials added a deeply confusing second to the clock as regulation ended at the Big House. The play following, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood hit wide receiver JJ Buchanan for a walk-off Hail Mary touchdown to give the Wolverines the shocking 13-12 victory. It's still the most jaw-dropping result of the season.
However, according to the committee, this should not have been the case. The Broncos should have won 12-7 instead. What a tough go for Western Michigan, who will have to hold to this ruling as proof they went the distance.
So, hypothetically, Michigan fans stormed the field after a loss?
Now... kind of, yeah.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NCAA committee admits Western Michigan should have beaten Michigan
