The NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee confirms that correct instant replay protocols were not followed in Michigan’s 13-12 win over Western Michigan, and that the result would have been different. The committee says that, if the replay procedures had been followed, Western Michigan would have beaten Michigan.
The NCAA also states it cannot change the official outcome of the game. CBS Sports and other reports note the committee lacks authority to overturn the final score. CBS Sports specifically says the committee found no time should have been added for Michigan’s game-winning Hail Mary, which influenced how the replay ruling affected the end of the game. Fox News similarly describes the decision as a botched replay-protocol handling by game officials.
Overall, the outlets align on the NCAA’s finding that officials did not follow the required replay protocols, and on the NCAA’s inability to modify the completed game result, even as it indicates the likely on-field outcome would have been different.
