Two weeks removed from one of the most egregious robberies in recent college football history, the NCAA confirmed a belief that every fan outside of Ann Arbor already knew: Western Michigan should have been crowned the winner against Michigan in Week 1.
As time wound down and Michigan was getting desperate in a 12-7 game, Bryce Underwood heaved a pass into the back of the end zone and it was first touched by a Western Michigan defender as the clock read 0:00.
Teams both took the field, coaches headed to shake hands, and Western Michigan celebrated a huge upset in the Big House.
Then the refs got together and made a call that changed everything. They put one second back on the clock, claiming that there was still a second on the clock when the defender touched it. No one else saw the one second (except for fans in the stadium claiming the stadium clock showed one second) and Michigan got one more shot at the end zone.
This time, Underwood threw it shorter and it was caught by Michigan's JJ Buchanan over a handful of Western Michigan defenders with no time left (really this time).
Everyone and their brother knew that the game should have been over and the team that outplayed Michigan the entire time should have won. Everyone except the refs, apparently.
Now, the NCAA is admitting that the refs didn't follow the proper protocols and that Western Michigan should have been declared the winner but they can't reverse the outcome unfortunately.
In other words, "oops, our bad".
We're sorry Western Michigan. NCAA Football Oversight Committee said if instant replay protocals at Michigan had been correctly followed, game's outcome would have been different.
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 16, 2026
But they can't overturn the result. Remains a Michigan victoryhttps://t.co/XoHkt6DW5o
We all knew that Michigan was going to hold on to the win because I don't think there's ever been a case of an overturned result on any controversial call -- at least not in modern history. We also knew that the call was wrong and Western Michigan should have won.
Basically we're all supposed to accept that the NCAA stole a massive upset from WMU and move on.
Good job, NCAA.
This could still affect Michigan's playoff hopes
Let's say that Michigan somehow runs the table (it won't) or loses just one game (it'll be more), there's a very good chance that the playoff selection committee looks at that Western Michigan game as a loss which could put the Wolverines on the bubble. They'll still be on the playoff bubble as long as they're ranked because of how big the field has become, but that game will affect playoff rankings.
At least it should.
It doesn't really matter what the NCAA says and whatever investiagation there was into the matter was pointless because everyone knew there wouldn't be a score reversal.
Sorry, Western Michigan, your loss was a big 'ol oopsie.
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