Story perspectives

NCAA hears MAC commissioner appeal over clock timing error

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher appealed to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee over a timing error.
The appeal alleges replay officials used an internal clock rather than the broadcast program-feed clock.
Michigan defeated Western Michigan 13-12 after a one-second addition enabled a final Hail Mary.
Both stadium and TV clocks displayed zero seconds when the first Hail Mary was thrown.

History

Historical Context

The 2001 Michigan–Ohio State football game, decided by a disputed one-second clock reading, sparked a nationwide debate over timing accuracy. The Big Ten, ESPN, and NCAA reported the stadium clock lagged 1.0 second behind the broadcast feed, costing the Buckeyes a tying drive. Today, MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher’s appeal to committee over Michigan’s 13-12 win echoes the 2001 dispute, claiming officials used the clock, not broadcast feed. The recurrence urges the NCAA to enforce stricter clock-synchronization protocols, potentially mandating uniform digital timekeeping across all Division I venues.

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Story summary

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher appealed to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee over a timing error.
The appeal alleges replay officials used an internal clock rather than the broadcast program-feed clock.
Michigan defeated Western Michigan 13-12 after a one-second addition enabled a final Hail Mary.
Both stadium and TV clocks displayed zero seconds when the first Hail Mary was thrown.

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