The Mid-American Conference has filed a formal appeal with the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff seeking to overturn Michigan's 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. The controversy centers on a final-second Hail Mary awarded after Big Ten replay officials used their system clock rather than the NBC broadcast clock, which read 0:00 when a Wolverine pass fell incomplete.

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher stated replay protocol was not properly followed, arguing the program-feed clock should have been used per established rules. Had it been followed, "no additional play would have been awarded." The appeal marks a sharp reversal from Steinbrecher's initial acceptance of the decision, where he expressed "confidence in the integrity of the process."

The Big Ten maintains its clock was correct, with internet stopwatches showing the first Hail Mary took less than the nine seconds remaining. However, the MAC contends protocol requires using the televised feed clock regardless of accuracy. Western Michigan received $1.5 million for the game, highlighting the financial disparity between conferences in college football's established pecking order.