Overview
- Michigan’s 13–12 victory over Western Michigan ended after a Hail Mary that was first ruled incomplete on Sept. 5, then replay officials restored one second and Michigan scored on the re‑play.
- The FBS Oversight Committee announced Sept. 16 that instant‑replay protocols were not followed on the second‑to‑last play and that the outcome would have been different had they been applied correctly.
- The committee said it does not have authority to overturn on‑field results, so the official game score remains a Michigan win despite the acknowledged error.
- The central technical dispute involved which clock replay officials should use, and the NCAA later issued guidance directing replay decisions to rely on the embedded program‑feed clock or the broadcast graphic if the embedded clock is unavailable.
- The finding has driven calls for standardized timing rules and greater replay transparency from conferences, and it could affect how selection panels treat Michigan and the lost opportunity for Western Michigan in postseason evaluations and season momentum.