Western Michigan leadership accepted a disputed officiating ruling rather than pursue a formal challenge after Michigan's walk-off win.
Western Michigan University president Russ Kavalhuna said Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, that he would not appeal the Big Ten replay decision that added one second to the clock and set up Michigan's game-winning Hail Mary touchdown in a 13-12 win at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor the previous day.
The Disputed Final Second
Western Michigan led 12-7 late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Sept. 5 season opener when the clock appeared to expire before Michigan's final play, according to broadcast footage. Big Ten replay officials determined that Western Michigan receiver Micah Davis made contact with the ball with one second remaining after jumping from out of bounds, per the conference's explanation reported by USA Today. That ruling restored one second to the clock, allowing Michigan to run a Hail Mary that resulted in the decisive touchdown and 13-12 final score, according to ESPN and USA Today.
The Big Ten said replay officials relied on a separate, internal timing feed rather than the stadium or broadcast clock, calling the differing readouts a "discrepancy" between what viewers saw and what officials tracked, ESPN reported.
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Kavalhuna Cites Legal Background in Backing Process
Speaking to reporters Sunday alongside head coach Lance Taylor, Kavalhuna said he had explored appeal options but found none available. "I did want to find a way to appeal that decision, but there is none. I've looked into this pretty closely. I used to be a federal prosecutor. I don't discern anything unfair or untoward in this process," Kavalhuna said, according to USA Today. He also described speaking directly with Big Ten staff overseeing the replay system, telling ESPN, "He was gracious enough to let me talk with some of his staff who are over this issue. And it is just a discrepancy. What the viewing public see and what the reviewing officials see are different and that's clear."
Immediately after Saturday's game, Kavalhuna had told reporters he intended to contact conference officials, saying, according to CBS Sports, "I just want everyone to know that this football team deserves a second look, if that's possible." Taylor noted MAC leadership had already sought clarification from the Big Ten. The loss drops Western Michigan to 0-1 ahead of its Sept. 12 home game against Monmouth.
