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CFP Says It Cannot Alter Michigan-Western Michigan Result
By Drooid · · How we work
CFP Clarifies Lack of Authority
The College Football Playoff (CFP) issued a statement to *The Athletic* asserting that it has no power to change the outcome of any regular-season game. The CFP emphasized that its selection committee evaluates teams using a “comprehensive body of work,” which includes opponent strength, schedule strength and record strength, rather than relying solely on win-loss records. The committee will consider the contested game as it was played, alongside every other contest on each team’s schedule.
NCAA Oversight Committee Findings
The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee released a separate statement confirming that it also lacks authority to overturn the result. However, the committee noted that proper instant-replay protocols were not followed on the penultimate play of the Michigan-Western Michigan game. It stated that, had the protocols been applied, the outcome “would have been different.” This assessment aligns with the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) complaint.
Conference Reactions
Following the game, the Big Ten released a recording of the replay review, showing the clock at one second when Western Michigan’s Micah Davis touched the ball. The MAC, joined by Western Michigan, formally requested that the result be changed. Nine days after MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher’s letter to the CFP and NCAA, the CFP reiterated its position that it cannot alter the game’s result.
Impact on Michigan’s Ranking
Michigan entered the season ranked 16th in the Top 25. After the 13-12 loss, the Wolverines fell out of the Top 25 a day later, reflecting the immediate effect of the controversial finish on their national standing.