Big Ten Makes Rule Change for Replay System Expansion After Controversial WMU-Michigan Finish

The fallout from Michigan's controversial win over Western Michigan continued Wednesday.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the Big Ten decided to expand the conference's in-broadcast replay review to feature all of the conference's games that are officiated by Big Ten crews. Thamel added that, "the league had announced all Friday games would have this access aspect, and they are now expanding to all home games officiated by Big Ten crews."

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports provided more context:

Michigan escaped Saturday's game with a 13-12 victory after it received a second chance at a Hail Mary pass.

The clock read 0:00 when Bryce Underwood's first Hail Mary fell incomplete with Western Michigan holding a 12-7 lead. It seemed like the MAC program pulled off the shocking upset, and their players began celebrating accordingly.

However, officials put one second on the clock upon review, and Underwood's next Hail Mary was complete for a touchdown. The fans of the Big Ten powerhouse stormed the field after the win over the in-state MAC challenger, and the Wolverines are still undefeated ahead of a highly anticipated showdown with Oklahoma.

MICHIGAN HAIL MARY TO WIN GAME

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It was quite a controversial result, and the Big Ten released a statement and video that said, in part, "As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling."

Despite the Big Ten's statement, MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher requested the NCAA and the College Football Playoff selection committee overturn the result and recognize the Broncos as the winners, per ESPN's Jake Trotter.

"I recognize that the Oversight Committee does not ordinarily alter results recorded on the field," Steinbrecher wrote in a letter to the NCAA. "Nevertheless, the circumstances of this game are extraordinary. The final outcome was directly affected by a replay officiating error resulting from the failure to follow an established and specific protocol governing precisely this type of end-of-half timing situation."

Trotter noted the NCAA and the FBS oversight committee said they do not have the ability to overturn the outcome.

While Michigan escaped with a win in Week 1, it did fall out of the Associated Press Top 25 as a result of its struggles.